Meredith vs. Penn State New Kensington

Comparable Facts

Compare Meredith College in Raleigh, NC with Penn State New Kensington in New Kensington, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Meredith College is larger than Penn State New Kensington based on total student enrollment (1,465 students vs. 421 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Meredith College is located in Raleigh, NC (Large City setting); Penn State New Kensington is in New Kensington, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Meredith College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State New Kensington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Meredith College 10:1; Penn State New Kensington 9:1.

Meredith vs. Penn State New Kensington Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Meredith or Penn State New Kensington? 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 New Kensington than Meredith ($19,504 vs. $24,323).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Meredith College are 13.1% lower than at Penn State New Kensington ($13,280 vs. $15,274).
• Meredith College is 216.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State New Kensington (about $31,222 more per year; $45,630.00 vs. $14,408.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 89.1% higher at Meredith than at Penn State New Kensington (about $21,496 more per year; $45,630.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Meredith College than at Penn State New Kensington (100% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Meredith College students is 324.1% larger than aid received by Penn State New Kensington students ($33,116 vs. $7,809).

Meredith vs. Penn State New Kensington Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Meredith or Penn State New Kensington? 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 New Kensington and Meredith.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Meredith College (1220) is 30 points higher than at Penn State New Kensington (1190).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Meredith College 1098/1348; Penn State New Kensington 1110/1265.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Meredith College 23/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Meredith - Test optional; Penn State New Kensington - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Meredith Feb 15, 2027.
• Penn State New Kensington has a higher acceptance rate (95.3%) than Meredith (74.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.5% at Meredith vs. 22% at Penn State New Kensington.

Meredith vs. Penn State New Kensington Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Meredith and Penn State New Kensington? 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).

• Meredith College's six-year graduation rate (59%) is higher than Penn State New Kensington's (40%).
• Graduates from Penn State New Kensington 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 New Kensington graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Meredith graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State New Kensington graduates ($268 vs. $277).
• More Penn State New Kensington 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.