Mount St. Mary's University vs. Penn State Abington

Comparable Facts

Compare Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg, MD with Penn State Abington in Abington, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Abington is larger than Mount St. Mary's University based on total student enrollment (2,885 students vs. 2,408 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mount St. Mary's University is located in Emmitsburg, MD (Rural Fringe setting); Penn State Abington is in Abington, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Mount St. Mary's University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Abington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mount St. Mary's University 13:1; Penn State Abington 14:1.

Mount St. Mary's University vs. Penn State Abington Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mount St. Mary's University or Penn State Abington? 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 Abington than Mount St. Mary's University ($19,232 vs. $23,027).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Abington are 3.8% lower than at Mount St. Mary's University ($14,474 vs. $15,050).
• Mount St. Mary's University is 218.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Abington (about $33,362 more per year; $48,630.00 vs. $15,268.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 89.5% higher at Mount St. Mary's University than at Penn State Abington (about $22,966 more per year; $48,630.00 vs. $25,664.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mount St. Mary's University than at Penn State Abington (100% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mount St. Mary's University students is 311% larger than aid received by Penn State Abington students ($40,619 vs. $9,883).

Mount St. Mary's University vs. Penn State Abington Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mount St. Mary's University or Penn State Abington? 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 Abington and Mount St. Mary's University.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Abington (1170) is 10 points higher than at Mount St. Mary's University (1160).
• Incoming Penn State Abington students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 23 at Mount St. Mary's University).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount St. Mary's University 1046/1280; Penn State Abington 1070/1265.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount St. Mary's University 19/27; Penn State Abington 23/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Mount St. Mary's University - Test optional; Penn State Abington - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Mount St. Mary's University Mar 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Abington students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Mount St. Mary's University (3.36).
• Penn State Abington has a higher acceptance rate (96.8%) than Mount St. Mary's University (73.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.2% at Mount St. Mary's University vs. 11.2% at Penn State Abington.

Mount St. Mary's University vs. Penn State Abington Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mount St. Mary's University and Penn State Abington? 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).

• Mount St. Mary's University's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than Penn State Abington's (44%).
• Graduates from Mount St. Mary's University earn a median of about $800 more per year than Penn State Abington graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,100 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mount St. Mary's University graduates have a $818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Abington graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Mount St. Mary's University graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Abington graduates ($268 vs. $277).
• More Mount St. Mary's University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Abington students, three years after graduation. (77% 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.