Meredith vs. Penn State

Deciding between Meredith College 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.

Meredith College
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Meredith Raleigh, NC
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Meredith Large City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Meredith 1,465
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Meredith Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Meredith #368
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Meredith -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Meredith Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Meredith
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Meredith $45,630
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Meredith $45,630
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Meredith $13,280
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Meredith $24,323
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Meredith $33,116
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Meredith 100%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Meredith 1,983
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Meredith 1,471
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Meredith 74.2%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Meredith 18.5%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Meredith 1220
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Meredith 26
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Meredith 3.52
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Meredith A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Meredith Difficult
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Meredith Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Meredith 23/29
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Meredith 1098/1348
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Meredith Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Meredith Feb 15, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Meredith 10:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Meredith
    • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Work and Family Studies (10%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Meredith 59%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Meredith $40,000
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Meredith 65%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Meredith $26,000
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Meredith $268
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Meredith 2%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Meredith 98%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Meredith Medium
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Meredith No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Meredith 71%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Meredith 3%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Meredith 10%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Meredith 3%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Meredith 1%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Meredith 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Meredith 4%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Meredith 5%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Meredith 2%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Meredith 82%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Meredith 18%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Meredith College in Raleigh, NC 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 Meredith based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 1,465 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Meredith College is located in Raleigh, NC (Large City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Meredith College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Meredith College 10:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Meredith vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Meredith 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 Meredith College than Penn State ($24,323 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Meredith College are 8.2% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($13,280 vs. $14,474).
  • Meredith College is 121% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $24,986 more per year; $45,630.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.2% higher at Meredith than at Penn State Main Campus (about $3,840 more per year; $45,630.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Meredith College than at Penn State Main Campus (100% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Meredith College students is 192.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($33,116 vs. $11,336).

Meredith vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Meredith 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 Meredith.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 110 points higher than at Meredith (1220).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 26 at Meredith).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Meredith College 1098/1348; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Meredith College 23/29; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Meredith - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Meredith Feb 15, 2027.
  • Meredith has a higher acceptance rate (74.2%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.5% at Meredith vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Meredith vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Meredith 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 Meredith College's (59%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $15,300 more per year than Meredith graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $40,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Meredith College graduates have a $818 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Meredith graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($268 vs. $277).
  • More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Meredith students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 65%)

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.