Penn State vs. Roger Williams University

Deciding between Penn State Main Campus and Roger Williams 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
Roger Williams University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Roger Williams University Bristol, RI
  • Setting
  • Penn State Small City
  • Roger Williams University Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Roger Williams University 4,350
  • Type
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • Roger Williams University Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Penn State #185
  • Roger Williams University #312
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Penn State -
  • Roger Williams University -
  • Status
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Roger Williams University Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Penn State
  • Roger Williams University

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Roger Williams University $44,418
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Roger Williams University $44,418
  • Room & Board
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Roger Williams University $17,112
  • Average Net Price
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Roger Williams University $38,779
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Penn State $11,336
  • Roger Williams University $23,192
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Penn State 37%
  • Roger Williams University 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Roger Williams University 8,029
  • Admitted
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Roger Williams University 7,042
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Roger Williams University 87.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Roger Williams University 13%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Penn State 1330
  • Roger Williams University 1230
  • Typical ACT score
  • Penn State 29
  • Roger Williams University 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Penn State -
  • Roger Williams University 3.43
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Penn State -
  • Roger Williams University B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Penn State Very High
  • Roger Williams University Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Penn State Low
  • Roger Williams University
  • ACT Range
  • Penn State 27/32
  • Roger Williams University 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Roger Williams University 1140/1310
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Roger Williams University Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Penn State
  • Roger Williams University Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Roger Williams University 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Roger Williams University
    • Business (23%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Architecture (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Penn State 87%
  • Roger Williams University 59%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Roger Williams University $53,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Penn State 69%
  • Roger Williams University 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Roger Williams University $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Penn State $277
  • Roger Williams University $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Penn State 52%
  • Roger Williams University 47%
  • % Women
  • Penn State 48%
  • Roger Williams University 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Penn State Medium
  • Roger Williams University Low
  • HBCU
  • Penn State No
  • Roger Williams University No
  • % White
  • Penn State 69%
  • Roger Williams University 75%
  • % Asian
  • Penn State 6%
  • Roger Williams University 1%
  • % Black
  • Penn State 4%
  • Roger Williams University 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Penn State 6%
  • Roger Williams University 6%
  • % Native American
  • Penn State 0%
  • Roger Williams University 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Penn State 0%
  • Roger Williams University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Penn State 3%
  • Roger Williams University 2%
  • % International
  • Penn State 11%
  • Roger Williams University 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Penn State 2%
  • Roger Williams University 9%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Penn State 53%
  • Roger Williams University 20%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Penn State 40%
  • Roger Williams University 78%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Main Campus is larger than Roger Williams University based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 4,350 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Penn State Main Campus is located in University Park, PA (Small City setting); Roger Williams University is in Bristol, RI (Large Suburban setting).
  • Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Roger Williams University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Main Campus 16:1; Roger Williams University 10:1.

Penn State vs. Roger Williams University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State or Roger Williams 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 Roger Williams University ($27,889 vs. $38,779).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 15.4% lower than at Roger Williams University ($14,474 vs. $17,112).
  • Roger Williams University is 115.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $23,774 more per year; $44,418.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.3% higher at Roger Williams University than at Penn State Main Campus (about $2,628 more per year; $44,418.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Roger Williams University than at Penn State Main Campus (100% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Roger Williams University students is 104.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($23,192 vs. $11,336).

Penn State vs. Roger Williams University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State or Roger Williams 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 Roger Williams University and Penn State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 100 points higher than at Roger Williams University (1230).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 26 at Roger Williams University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420; Roger Williams University 1140/1310.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Main Campus 27/32; Roger Williams University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State - Test optional; Roger Williams University - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Roger Williams University Feb 1, 2027.
  • Roger Williams University has a higher acceptance rate (87.7%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at Penn State vs. 13% at Roger Williams University.

Penn State vs. Roger Williams University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State and Roger Williams 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 Roger Williams University's (59%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than Roger Williams University graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $53,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Main Campus graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Roger Williams University graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Penn State graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Roger Williams University graduates ($277 vs. $279).
  • More Roger Williams University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.