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Virginia Tech UD Clemson UNC Chapel Hill Rutgers UConn Pitt UMass UNC Charlotte UB UofSC ASU| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | Penn State Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
NC State | Penn State | ||
| Location | Raleigh, NC | University Park, PA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 36,700 | 50,028 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #123 | #167 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | ncsu.edu | psu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NC State | Penn State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $6,535 | $18,368 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $28,276 | $35,946 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,748 | $12,744 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,852 | $26,747 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,181 | $10,066 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 71% | 44% |
Admission |
NC State | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 35,568 | 85,784 | ||
| Admitted | 16,779 | 47,360 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 47.2% | 55.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 33.5% | 19.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.83 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 28/33 | 26/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1280/1460 | 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 | Jan 15, 2025 |
Academics |
NC State | Penn State | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NC State | Penn State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 72% | 87% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $57,200 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 76% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,782 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $214 | $277 |
Diversity |
NC State | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 51% | 53% | ||
| % Women | 49% | 47% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 74% | 69% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 3% | ||
| % International | 4% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 2% |
Students |
NC State | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 83% | 51% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 14% | 40% | ||
Campus |
NC State | Penn State | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Penn State Main Campus is larger than than NC State based on total student enrollment (50,028 students vs. 36,700 students)
NC State vs. Penn State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NC State or Penn State?
- Penn State Main Campus is 181.1% more expensive to attend than NC State for in-state tuition ($18,368.00 vs. $6,535.00)
- Out of state tuition is 27.1% higher at Penn State than North Carolina State University at Raleigh ($35,946.00 vs. $28,276.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at North Carolina State University at Raleigh than Penn State ($14,852 vs. $26,747)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 0% lower than costs at North Carolina State University at Raleigh ($12,744 vs. $12,748)
- More students receive financial grant aid at North Carolina State University at Raleigh than Penn State Main Campus (71% vs. 44%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 9.6% larger than aid received North Carolina State University at Raleigh ($10,066 vs. $9,181)
NC State vs. Penn State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NC State or Penn State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State or NC State .
- The average SAT score at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (1264) is 62 points higher than at Penn State (1202)
- Incoming NC State students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Penn State (27)
- Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (55.2%) than NC State (47.2%)
NC State vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NC 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 NC State.
- The graduation rate at Penn State is higher than North Carolina State University at Raleigh (87% vs. 72%)
- Graduates from North Carolina State University at Raleigh earn on average $1,900 more per year than Penn State graduates after ten years. ($57,200 vs. $55,300)
- North Carolina State University at Raleigh students graduate with a $6,036 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($20,782 vs. $26,818)
- NC State graduates are paying $63 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State graduates. ($214 vs. $277)
- More NC State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/