Monmouth University vs. Penn State

Deciding between Monmouth 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.

Monmouth University
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Monmouth University West Long Branch, NJ
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Monmouth University Large Suburban
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Monmouth University 4,767
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Monmouth University Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Monmouth University #365
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Monmouth University -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Monmouth University Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Monmouth University
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Monmouth University $46,552
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Monmouth University $46,552
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Monmouth University $17,698
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Monmouth University $34,072
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Monmouth University $29,233
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Monmouth University 100%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Monmouth University 9,321
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Monmouth University 8,298
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Monmouth University 89%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Monmouth University 10%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Monmouth University 1230
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Monmouth University 26
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Monmouth University 3.57
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Monmouth University A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Monmouth University Challenging
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Monmouth University
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Monmouth University 24/29
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Monmouth University 1140/1310
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Monmouth University Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Monmouth University Mar 1, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Monmouth University 12:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Monmouth University
    • Business (28%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Monmouth University 66%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Monmouth University $56,500
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Monmouth University 70%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Monmouth University $26,701
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Monmouth University $276
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Monmouth University 34%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Monmouth University 66%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Monmouth University Low
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Monmouth University No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Monmouth University 74%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Monmouth University 3%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Monmouth University 5%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Monmouth University 11%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Monmouth University 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Monmouth University 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Monmouth University 2%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Monmouth University 1%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Monmouth University 3%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Monmouth University 72%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Monmouth University 26%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Monmouth University in West Long Branch, NJ 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 Monmouth University based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 4,767 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Monmouth University is located in West Long Branch, NJ (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Monmouth 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: Monmouth University 12:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Monmouth University vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Monmouth 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 Monmouth University ($27,889 vs. $34,072).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 18.2% lower than at Monmouth University ($14,474 vs. $17,698).
  • Monmouth University is 125.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $25,908 more per year; $46,552.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 11.4% higher at Monmouth University than at Penn State Main Campus (about $4,762 more per year; $46,552.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Monmouth University than at Penn State Main Campus (100% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Monmouth University students is 157.9% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($29,233 vs. $11,336).

Monmouth University vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 100 points higher than at Monmouth University (1230).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 26 at Monmouth University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Monmouth University 1140/1310; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Monmouth University 24/29; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Monmouth University - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Monmouth University Mar 1, 2027.
  • Monmouth University has a higher acceptance rate (89%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10% at Monmouth University vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Monmouth University vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Monmouth 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 Monmouth University's (66%).
  • Graduates from Monmouth University earn a median of about $1,200 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,500 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Monmouth University graduates have a $117 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($26,701 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Monmouth University graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($276 vs. $277).
  • More Monmouth University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (70% 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.