Penn State vs. Bryant University

Deciding between Penn State Main Campus and Bryant University? 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.

Penn State Main Campus
Bryant University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Bryant University Smithfield, RI
  • Setting
  • Penn State Small City
  • Bryant University Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Bryant University 3,636
  • Type
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • Bryant University Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Penn State #185
  • Bryant University #263
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Penn State -
  • Bryant University -
  • Status
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Bryant University Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Penn State
  • Bryant University

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Bryant University $52,677
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Bryant University $52,677
  • Room & Board
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Bryant University $17,528
  • Average Net Price
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Bryant University $42,139
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Penn State $11,336
  • Bryant University $28,035
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Penn State 37%
  • Bryant University 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Bryant University 9,825
  • Admitted
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Bryant University 6,431
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Bryant University 65.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Bryant University 13.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Penn State 1330
  • Bryant University 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Penn State 29
  • Bryant University 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Penn State -
  • Bryant University 3.43
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Penn State -
  • Bryant University B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Penn State Very High
  • Bryant University Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Penn State Low
  • Bryant University Low
  • ACT Range
  • Penn State 27/32
  • Bryant University 27/28
  • SAT Range
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Bryant University 1190/1330
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Bryant University Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Penn State
  • Bryant University Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Bryant University 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Bryant University
    • Business (77%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
    • Communication (6%)
    • Social Sciences (4%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Penn State 87%
  • Bryant University 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Bryant University $73,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Penn State 69%
  • Bryant University 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Bryant University $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Penn State $277
  • Bryant University $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Penn State 52%
  • Bryant University 63%
  • % Women
  • Penn State 48%
  • Bryant University 37%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Penn State Medium
  • Bryant University Low
  • HBCU
  • Penn State No
  • Bryant University No
  • % White
  • Penn State 69%
  • Bryant University 73%
  • % Asian
  • Penn State 6%
  • Bryant University 5%
  • % Black
  • Penn State 4%
  • Bryant University 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Penn State 6%
  • Bryant University 7%
  • % Native American
  • Penn State 0%
  • Bryant University 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Penn State 0%
  • Bryant University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Penn State 3%
  • Bryant University 1%
  • % International
  • Penn State 11%
  • Bryant University 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Penn State 2%
  • Bryant University 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Penn State 53%
  • Bryant University 12%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Penn State 40%
  • Bryant University 81%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA with Bryant University in Smithfield, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than Bryant University based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 3,636 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Penn State Main Campus is located in University Park, PA (Small City setting); Bryant University is in Smithfield, RI (Large Suburban setting).
  • Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Bryant University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Main Campus 16:1; Bryant University 13:1.

Penn State vs. Bryant University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State or Bryant University? 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 Bryant University ($27,889 vs. $42,139).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 17.4% lower than at Bryant University ($14,474 vs. $17,528).
  • Bryant University is 155.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $32,033 more per year; $52,677.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 26.1% higher at Bryant University than at Penn State Main Campus (about $10,887 more per year; $52,677.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bryant University than at Penn State Main Campus (99% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bryant University students is 147.3% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($28,035 vs. $11,336).

Penn State vs. Bryant University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State or Bryant University? 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 Bryant University and Penn State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 70 points higher than at Bryant University (1260).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 27 at Bryant University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420; Bryant University 1190/1330.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Main Campus 27/32; Bryant University 27/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State - Test optional; Bryant University - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bryant University Feb 1, 2027.
  • Bryant University has a higher acceptance rate (65.5%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at Penn State vs. 13.7% at Bryant University.

Penn State vs. Bryant University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State and Bryant University? 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 Bryant University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Bryant University earn a median of about $18,200 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($73,500 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Main Campus graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Bryant University graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Penn State graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bryant University graduates ($277 vs. $279).
  • More Bryant University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (87% 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.