Marist University vs. Penn State

Deciding between Marist 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.

Marist University
Penn State Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Marist University Poughkeepsie, NY
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Marist University Large Suburban
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Marist University 6,356
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Marist University Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Marist University #178
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Marist University -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Marist University Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Marist University
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Marist University $47,750
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Marist University $47,750
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Marist University $18,460
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Marist University $42,508
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Marist University $25,067
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Marist University 96%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Marist University 11,274
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Marist University 6,371
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Marist University 56.5%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Marist University 19.9%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Marist University 1270
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Marist University 28
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Marist University 3.56
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Marist University A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Marist University Difficult
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Marist University Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Marist University 25/31
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Marist University 1190/1340
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Marist University Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Marist University Feb 15, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Marist University 15:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Marist University
    • Business (24%)
    • Communication (16%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
    • Biology (5%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Marist University 80%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Marist University $59,000
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Marist University 80%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Marist University $26,000
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Marist University $268
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Marist University 41%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Marist University 59%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Marist University Low
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Marist University No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Marist University 78%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Marist University 3%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Marist University 4%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Marist University 9%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Marist University 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Marist University 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Marist University 2%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Marist University 2%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Marist University 2%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Marist University 45%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Marist University 52%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Marist University in Poughkeepsie, 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 Marist University based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 6,356 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Marist University is located in Poughkeepsie, NY (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Marist 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: Marist University 15:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Marist University vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Marist 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 Marist University ($27,889 vs. $42,508).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 21.6% lower than at Marist University ($14,474 vs. $18,460).
  • Marist University is 131.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $27,106 more per year; $47,750.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.3% higher at Marist University than at Penn State Main Campus (about $5,960 more per year; $47,750.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Marist University than at Penn State Main Campus (96% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Marist University students is 121.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($25,067 vs. $11,336).

Marist University vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Marist 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 Marist University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 60 points higher than at Marist University (1270).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 28 at Marist University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Marist University 1190/1340; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Marist University 25/31; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Marist University - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Marist University Feb 15, 2027.
  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Marist University (56.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.9% at Marist University vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Marist University vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Marist 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 Marist University's (80%).
  • Graduates from Marist University earn a median of about $3,700 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,000 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Marist University graduates have a $818 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Marist University graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($268 vs. $277).
  • More Marist University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (80% 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.