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Virginia Tech UD Rutgers UConn Pitt UMass UB NC State Michigan State Clemson Syracuse Drexel| Penn State Main Campus | Thomas Jefferson University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Penn State | Jefferson | ||
| Location | University Park, PA | Philadelphia, PA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 50,028 | 8,286 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #167 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | psu.edu | jefferson.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Penn State | Jefferson | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $18,368 | $43,100 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $35,946 | $43,100 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,744 | $14,715 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $26,747 | $28,110 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,066 | $32,486 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 44% | 100% |
Admission |
Penn State | Jefferson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 85,784 | 5,723 | ||
| Admitted | 47,360 | 5,085 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 55.2% | 88.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 19.5% | 14.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | 3.73 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 26/31 | 27/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1210/1390 | 1130/1350 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jul 31, 2025 |
Academics |
Penn State | Jefferson | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Penn State | Jefferson | ||
| Graduation Rate | 87% | - | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $55,300 | $122,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 69% | 86% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,818 | $12,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $277 | $129 |
Diversity |
Penn State | Jefferson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 53% | 27% | ||
| % Women | 47% | 73% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 69% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 1% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 11% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 7% |
Students |
Penn State | Jefferson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 51% | 63% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 40% | 35% | ||
Campus |
Penn State | Jefferson | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | |||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | |||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Penn State Main Campus is larger than than Jefferson based on total student enrollment (50,028 students vs. 8,286 students)
Penn State vs. Jefferson Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Penn State or Jefferson?
- Thomas Jefferson University is 134.6% more expensive to attend than Penn State for in-state tuition ($43,100.00 vs. $18,368.00)
- Out of state tuition is 19.9% higher at Jefferson than Penn State Main Campus ($43,100.00 vs. $35,946.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Main Campus than Jefferson ($26,747 vs. $28,110)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 15.5% lower than costs at Thomas Jefferson University ($12,744 vs. $14,715)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Thomas Jefferson University than Penn State Main Campus (100% vs. 44%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Thomas Jefferson University students is 222.7% larger than aid received Penn State Main Campus ($32,486 vs. $10,066)
Penn State vs. Jefferson Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Penn State or Jefferson? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Jefferson or Penn State .
- Jefferson has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Penn State (55.2%)
Penn State vs. Jefferson Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Penn State or Jefferson? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Jefferson and Penn State.
- Graduates from Thomas Jefferson University earn on average $67,600 more per year than Penn State graduates after ten years. ($122,900 vs. $55,300)
- Thomas Jefferson University students graduate with a $14,318 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($12,500 vs. $26,818)
- Jefferson graduates are paying $148 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State graduates. ($129 vs. $277)
- More Jefferson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/