Pace University vs. Penn State

Deciding between Pace 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.

Pace University
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Pace University New York, NY
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Pace University Large City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Pace University 13,634
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Pace University Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Pace University #357
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Pace University -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Pace University Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Pace University
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Pace University $53,290
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Pace University $53,290
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Pace University $22,553
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Pace University $34,791
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Pace University $35,136
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Pace University 99%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Pace University 30,030
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Pace University 22,798
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Pace University 75.9%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Pace University 8.1%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Pace University 1260
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Pace University 26
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Pace University 3.4
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Pace University B+
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Pace University Difficult
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Pace University
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Pace University 24/29
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Pace University 1180/1340
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Pace University Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Pace University Feb 15, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Pace University 14:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Pace University
    • Business (36%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (6%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Pace University 53%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Pace University $63,100
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Pace University 65%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Pace University $25,000
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Pace University $258
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Pace University 37%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Pace University 63%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Pace University High
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Pace University No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Pace University 50%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Pace University 8%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Pace University 10%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Pace University 14%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Pace University 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Pace University 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Pace University 4%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Pace University 9%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Pace University 3%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Pace University 46%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Pace University 48%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Pace University in New York, NY 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 Pace University based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 13,634 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Pace University is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Pace 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: Pace University 14:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Pace University vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pace 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 Pace University ($27,889 vs. $34,791).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 35.8% lower than at Pace University ($14,474 vs. $22,553).
  • Pace University is 158.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $32,646 more per year; $53,290.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 27.5% higher at Pace University than at Penn State Main Campus (about $11,500 more per year; $53,290.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pace University than at Penn State Main Campus (99% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pace University students is 210% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($35,136 vs. $11,336).

Pace University vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 70 points higher than at Pace University (1260).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 26 at Pace University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Pace University 1180/1340; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Pace University 24/29; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pace University - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Pace University Feb 15, 2027.
  • Pace University has a higher acceptance rate (75.9%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.1% at Pace University vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Pace University vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pace 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 Pace University's (53%).
  • Graduates from Pace University earn a median of about $7,800 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($63,100 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Pace University graduates have a $1,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Pace University graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($258 vs. $277).
  • More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pace University students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 65%)

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.