Miami vs. Penn State

Deciding between Miami University Oxford 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.

Miami University Oxford
Penn State Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Miami Oxford, OH
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Miami Distant Town
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Miami 18,838
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Miami Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Miami #280
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Miami -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Miami Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Miami
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Miami $18,161
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Miami $41,221
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Miami $16,750
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Miami $28,229
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Miami $13,937
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Miami 93%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Miami 39,580
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Miami 29,843
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Miami 75.4%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Miami 14%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Miami 1310
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Miami 27
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Miami 3.85
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Miami A
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Miami Difficult
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Miami
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Miami 25/30
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Miami 1220/1390
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Miami Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Miami Feb 1, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Miami 16:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Miami
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Biology (6%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Miami 81%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Miami $54,300
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Miami 57%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Miami $24,750
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Miami $255
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Miami 46%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Miami 54%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Miami Low
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Miami No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Miami 77%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Miami 2%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Miami 3%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Miami 4%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Miami 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Miami 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Miami 3%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Miami 10%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Miami 0%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Miami 64%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Miami 35%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Miami University Oxford in Oxford, OH 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 Miami based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 18,838 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Miami University Oxford is located in Oxford, OH (Distant Town setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Miami University Oxford is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Miami University Oxford 16:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Miami vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Miami 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 Miami ($27,889 vs. $28,229).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 13.6% lower than at Miami University Oxford ($14,474 vs. $16,750).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 13.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Miami (about $2,483 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $18,161.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.4% higher at Penn State than at Miami University Oxford (about $569 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $41,221.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Miami University Oxford than at Penn State Main Campus (93% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Miami University Oxford students is 22.9% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($13,937 vs. $11,336).

Miami vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Miami 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 Miami.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 20 points higher than at Miami (1310).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 27 at Miami).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Miami University Oxford 1220/1390; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Miami University Oxford 25/30; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Miami - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Miami Feb 1, 2027.
  • Miami has a higher acceptance rate (75.4%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14% at Miami vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Miami vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Miami 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 Miami University Oxford's (81%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $1,000 more per year than Miami graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $54,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Miami University Oxford graduates have a $2,068 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($24,750 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Miami graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($255 vs. $277).
  • More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Miami students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 57%)

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.