Manhattan University vs. Penn State

Deciding between Manhattan University and Penn State Main Campus? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Manhattan University
Penn State Main Campus

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Manhattan University Riverdale, NY
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Manhattan University Large City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Manhattan University 3,225
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Manhattan University Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Manhattan University #227
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Manhattan University Roman Catholic
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Manhattan University Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Manhattan University
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Manhattan University $53,400
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Manhattan University $53,400
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Manhattan University $18,800
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Manhattan University $29,717
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Manhattan University $34,078
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Manhattan University 100%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Manhattan University 9,903
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Manhattan University 7,817
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Manhattan University 78.9% Open
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Manhattan University 8% Open
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Manhattan University 1270
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Manhattan University 27
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Manhattan University 3.63
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Manhattan University A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Manhattan University Difficult
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Manhattan University
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Manhattan University 25/29
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Manhattan University 1180/1358
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Manhattan University Open admission
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Manhattan University Aug 31, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Manhattan University 15:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Manhattan University
    • Engineering (25%)
    • Business (23%)
    • Education (17%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Manhattan University 72%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Manhattan University $66,700
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Manhattan University 82%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Manhattan University $26,000
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Manhattan University $268
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Manhattan University 58%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Manhattan University 42%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Manhattan University Medium
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Manhattan University No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Manhattan University 57%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Manhattan University 5%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Manhattan University 4%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Manhattan University 21%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Manhattan University 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Manhattan University 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Manhattan University 2%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Manhattan University 3%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Manhattan University 8%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Manhattan University 76%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Manhattan University 21%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Manhattan University Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Manhattan University No
  • Penn State Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Manhattan University Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Manhattan University Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Manhattan University No
  • Penn State Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Manhattan University in Riverdale, NY with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than Manhattan University based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 3,225 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Manhattan University is located in Riverdale, NY (Large City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Manhattan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Manhattan University 15:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Manhattan University vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Manhattan University or Penn State? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Main Campus than Manhattan University ($27,889 vs. $29,717).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 23% lower than at Manhattan University ($14,474 vs. $18,800).
  • Manhattan University is 158.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $32,756 more per year; $53,400.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 27.8% higher at Manhattan University than at Penn State Main Campus (about $11,610 more per year; $53,400.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Manhattan University than at Penn State Main Campus (100% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Manhattan University students is 200.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($34,078 vs. $11,336).

Manhattan University vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Manhattan University or Penn State? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Penn State and Manhattan University.

  • Manhattan University reports an open admissions policy.
  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 60 points higher than at Manhattan University (1270).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 27 at Manhattan University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Manhattan University 1180/1358; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Manhattan University 25/29; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Manhattan University - Open admission; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Manhattan University Aug 31, 2027.
  • Manhattan University has a higher acceptance rate (78.9%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8% at Manhattan University vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Manhattan University vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Manhattan University and Penn State? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Manhattan University's (72%).
  • Graduates from Manhattan University earn a median of about $11,400 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,700 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Manhattan University graduates have a $818 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Manhattan University graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($268 vs. $277).
  • More Manhattan University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.