OSU vs. Penn State

Deciding between Oregon State 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.

Oregon State University
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • OSU Corvallis, OR
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • OSU Small City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • OSU 37,163
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • OSU Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • OSU #336
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • OSU -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • OSU Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • OSU
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • OSU $14,400
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • OSU $38,190
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • OSU $16,386
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • OSU $22,467
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • OSU $11,230
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • OSU 90%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • OSU 30,293
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • OSU 23,418
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • OSU 77.3%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • OSU 20.4%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • OSU 1270
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • OSU 27
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • OSU 3.61
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • OSU A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • OSU Very High
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • OSU
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • OSU 24/31
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • OSU 1140/1400
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • OSU Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • OSU Feb 1, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • OSU 18:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • OSU
    • Business (15%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Work and Family Studies (11%)
    • Biology (6%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (6%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • OSU 61%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • OSU $53,900
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • OSU 66%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • OSU $23,500
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • OSU $242
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • OSU 50%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • OSU 50%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • OSU Medium
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • OSU No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • OSU 67%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • OSU 7%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • OSU 1%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • OSU 9%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • OSU 1%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • OSU 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • OSU 7%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • OSU 6%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • OSU 2%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • OSU 55%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • OSU 42%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Oregon State University in Corvallis, OR 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 OSU based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 37,163 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Oregon State University is located in Corvallis, OR (Small City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Oregon State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Oregon State University 18:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

OSU vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, OSU 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 Oregon State University than Penn State ($22,467 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 11.7% lower than at Oregon State University ($14,474 vs. $16,386).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 43.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than OSU (about $6,244 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $14,400.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.4% higher at Penn State than at Oregon State University (about $3,600 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $38,190.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Oregon State University than at Penn State Main Campus (90% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 0.9% larger than aid received by Oregon State University students ($11,336 vs. $11,230).

OSU vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, OSU 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 OSU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 60 points higher than at OSU (1270).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 27 at OSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Oregon State University 1140/1400; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Oregon State University 24/31; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: OSU - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: OSU Feb 1, 2027.
  • OSU has a higher acceptance rate (77.3%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.4% at OSU vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

OSU vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for OSU 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 Oregon State University's (61%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than OSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $53,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Oregon State University graduates have a $3,318 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($23,500 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, OSU graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($242 vs. $277).
  • More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OSU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 66%)

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.