Penn State vs. Hollins College

Deciding between Penn State Main Campus and Hollins 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
Hollins University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Hollins College Roanoke, VA
  • Setting
  • Penn State Small City
  • Hollins College Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Hollins College 761
  • Type
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • Hollins College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Penn State #185
  • Hollins College
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Penn State -
  • Hollins College -
  • Status
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Hollins College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Penn State
  • Hollins College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Hollins College $43,560
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Hollins College $43,560
  • Room & Board
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Hollins College $15,800
  • Average Net Price
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Hollins College $22,605
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Penn State $11,336
  • Hollins College $36,154
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Penn State 37%
  • Hollins College 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Hollins College 2,827
  • Admitted
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Hollins College 1,921
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Hollins College 68%
  • Enrolled
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Hollins College 9.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Penn State 1330
  • Hollins College 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • Penn State 29
  • Hollins College
  • Average High School GPA
  • Penn State -
  • Hollins College 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Penn State -
  • Hollins College A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Penn State Very High
  • Hollins College Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Penn State Low
  • Hollins College Low
  • ACT Range
  • Penn State 27/32
  • Hollins College
  • SAT Range
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Hollins College 1150/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Hollins College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Penn State
  • Hollins College

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Hollins College 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Hollins College
    • English and Literature (23%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (19%)
    • (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Penn State 87%
  • Hollins College 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Hollins College $35,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Penn State 69%
  • Hollins College 57%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Hollins College $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Penn State $277
  • Hollins College $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Penn State 52%
  • Hollins College 2%
  • % Women
  • Penn State 48%
  • Hollins College 98%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Penn State Medium
  • Hollins College Medium
  • HBCU
  • Penn State No
  • Hollins College No
  • % White
  • Penn State 69%
  • Hollins College 64%
  • % Asian
  • Penn State 6%
  • Hollins College 3%
  • % Black
  • Penn State 4%
  • Hollins College 12%
  • % Hispanic
  • Penn State 6%
  • Hollins College 7%
  • % Native American
  • Penn State 0%
  • Hollins College 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Penn State 0%
  • Hollins College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Penn State 3%
  • Hollins College 4%
  • % International
  • Penn State 11%
  • Hollins College 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Penn State 2%
  • Hollins College 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Penn State 53%
  • Hollins College 63%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Penn State 40%
  • Hollins College 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Main Campus is larger than Hollins College based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 761 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Penn State Main Campus is located in University Park, PA (Small City setting); Hollins University is in Roanoke, VA (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Hollins University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Main Campus 16:1; Hollins University 8:1.

Penn State vs. Hollins College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State or Hollins College? 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 Hollins University than Penn State ($22,605 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 8.4% lower than at Hollins University ($14,474 vs. $15,800).
  • Hollins University is 111% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $22,916 more per year; $43,560.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.2% higher at Hollins College than at Penn State Main Campus (about $1,770 more per year; $43,560.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hollins University than at Penn State Main Campus (100% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Hollins University students is 218.9% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($36,154 vs. $11,336).

Penn State vs. Hollins College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State or Hollins College? 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 Hollins College and Penn State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 80 points higher than at Hollins College (1250).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420; Hollins University 1150/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State - Test optional; Hollins College - Test optional.
  • Hollins College has a higher acceptance rate (68%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at Penn State vs. 9.6% at Hollins College.

Penn State vs. Hollins College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State and Hollins College? 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 Hollins University's (63%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $19,700 more per year than Hollins College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $35,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Main Campus graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Hollins College graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Penn State graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Hollins College graduates ($277 vs. $279).
  • More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hollins College students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 57%)

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.