Muhlenberg College vs. Penn State

Deciding between Muhlenberg College 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.

Muhlenberg College
Penn State Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Muhlenberg College Allentown, PA
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Muhlenberg College Midsize City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Muhlenberg College 1,788
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Muhlenberg College Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Muhlenberg College #96
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Muhlenberg College Evangelical Lutheran Church
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Muhlenberg College Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Muhlenberg College
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Muhlenberg College $62,805
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Muhlenberg College $62,805
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Muhlenberg College $14,548
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Muhlenberg College $34,739
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Muhlenberg College $42,545
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Muhlenberg College 99%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Muhlenberg College 4,963
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Muhlenberg College 3,573
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Muhlenberg College 72%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Muhlenberg College 13%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Muhlenberg College 1330
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Muhlenberg College 31
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Muhlenberg College 3.44
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Muhlenberg College B+
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Muhlenberg College Very High
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Muhlenberg College Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Muhlenberg College 29/33
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Muhlenberg College 1250/1410
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Muhlenberg College Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Muhlenberg College Feb 1, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Muhlenberg College 9:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Muhlenberg College
    • Business (24%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Communication (9%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Muhlenberg College 86%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Muhlenberg College $63,700
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Muhlenberg College 84%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Muhlenberg College $26,490
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Muhlenberg College $273
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Muhlenberg College 42%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Muhlenberg College 58%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Muhlenberg College Low
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Muhlenberg College No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Muhlenberg College 75%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Muhlenberg College 3%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Muhlenberg College 3%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Muhlenberg College 7%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Muhlenberg College 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Muhlenberg College 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Muhlenberg College 2%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Muhlenberg College 3%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Muhlenberg College 8%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Muhlenberg College 26%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Muhlenberg College 73%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA 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 Muhlenberg College based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 1,788 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Muhlenberg College is located in Allentown, PA (Midsize City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Muhlenberg College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Muhlenberg College 9:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Muhlenberg College vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Muhlenberg College 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 Muhlenberg College ($27,889 vs. $34,739).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 0.5% lower than at Muhlenberg College ($14,474 vs. $14,548).
  • Muhlenberg College is 204.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $42,161 more per year; $62,805.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 50.3% higher at Muhlenberg College than at Penn State Main Campus (about $21,015 more per year; $62,805.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Muhlenberg College than at Penn State Main Campus (99% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Muhlenberg College students is 275.3% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($42,545 vs. $11,336).

Muhlenberg College vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Muhlenberg College 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 Muhlenberg College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Muhlenberg College (1330) is the same as at Penn State (1330).
  • Incoming Muhlenberg College students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 29 at Penn State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Muhlenberg College 1250/1410; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Muhlenberg College 29/33; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Muhlenberg College - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Muhlenberg College Feb 1, 2027.
  • Muhlenberg College has a higher acceptance rate (72%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13% at Muhlenberg College vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Muhlenberg College vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Muhlenberg College 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 Muhlenberg College's (86%).
  • Graduates from Muhlenberg College earn a median of about $8,400 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($63,700 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Muhlenberg College graduates have a $328 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($26,490 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Muhlenberg College graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($273 vs. $277).
  • More Muhlenberg College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.