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Virginia Tech UD Rutgers UConn Pitt UMass UB NC State Michigan State Clemson Syracuse Ole Miss| Mississippi State University | Penn State Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Mississippi State | Penn State | ||
| Location | Mississippi State, MS | University Park, PA | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 22,649 | 50,028 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #523 | #167 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | msstate.edu | psu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Mississippi State | Penn State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,248 | $18,368 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $25,294 | $35,946 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,964 | $12,744 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $15,364 | $26,747 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $14,252 | $10,066 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 44% |
Admission |
Mississippi State | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 18,830 | 85,784 | ||
| Admitted | 14,158 | 47,360 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 75.2% | 55.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 23.8% | 19.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.58 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 21/29 | 26/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1070/1280 | 1210/1390 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Mississippi State | Penn State | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Mississippi State | Penn State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 60% | 87% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,500 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 63% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,250 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $240 | $277 |
Diversity |
Mississippi State | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 49% | 53% | ||
| % Women | 51% | 47% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 72% | 69% | ||
| % Black | 20% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 2% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 1% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 2% |
Students |
Mississippi State | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 59% | 51% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 40% | 40% | ||
Campus |
Mississippi State | Penn State | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Penn State Main Campus is larger than than Mississippi State based on total student enrollment (50,028 students vs. 22,649 students)
Mississippi State vs. Penn State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Mississippi State or Penn State?
- Penn State Main Campus is 98.6% more expensive to attend than Mississippi State for in-state tuition ($18,368.00 vs. $9,248.00)
- Out of state tuition is 42.1% higher at Penn State than Mississippi State University ($35,946.00 vs. $25,294.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mississippi State University than Penn State ($15,364 vs. $26,747)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mississippi State University are 16.2% lower than costs at Penn State Main Campus ($10,964 vs. $12,744)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Mississippi State University than Penn State Main Campus (98% vs. 44%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Mississippi State University students is 41.6% larger than aid received Penn State Main Campus ($14,252 vs. $10,066)
Mississippi State vs. Penn State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Mississippi State or Penn State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State or Mississippi State .
- The average SAT score at Penn State Main Campus (1202) is 62 points higher than at Mississippi State (1140)
- Incoming Penn State students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Mississippi State (25)
- Mississippi State has a higher acceptance rate (75.2%) than Penn State (55.2%)
Mississippi State vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Mississippi State or Penn State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Penn State and Mississippi State.
- The graduation rate at Penn State is higher than Mississippi State University (87% vs. 60%)
- Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn on average $7,800 more per year than Mississippi State graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $47,500)
- Mississippi State University students graduate with a $3,568 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($23,250 vs. $26,818)
- Mississippi State graduates are paying $37 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State graduates. ($240 vs. $277)
- More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mississippi State students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 63%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/