Penn State vs. University of Richmond

Deciding between Penn State Main Campus and University of Richmond? 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
University of Richmond

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • University of Richmond University of Richmond, VA
  • Setting
  • Penn State Small City
  • University of Richmond Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Penn State 50,737
  • University of Richmond 3,722
  • Type
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • University of Richmond Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Penn State #185
  • University of Richmond #38
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Penn State -
  • University of Richmond -
  • Status
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • University of Richmond Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Penn State
  • University of Richmond

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Penn State $20,644
  • University of Richmond $65,230
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Penn State $41,790
  • University of Richmond $65,230
  • Room & Board
  • Penn State $14,474
  • University of Richmond $17,140
  • Average Net Price
  • Penn State $27,889
  • University of Richmond $30,037
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Penn State $11,336
  • University of Richmond $51,039
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Penn State 37%
  • University of Richmond 56%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Penn State 88,478
  • University of Richmond 16,152
  • Admitted
  • Penn State 53,579
  • University of Richmond 3,585
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • University of Richmond 22.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • University of Richmond 23.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Penn State 1330
  • University of Richmond 1470
  • Typical ACT score
  • Penn State 29
  • University of Richmond 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Penn State -
  • University of Richmond 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Penn State -
  • University of Richmond A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Penn State Very High
  • University of Richmond Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Penn State Low
  • University of Richmond Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Penn State 27/32
  • University of Richmond 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • University of Richmond 1410/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Penn State Test optional
  • University of Richmond Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Penn State
  • University of Richmond Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Penn State 16:1
  • University of Richmond 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • University of Richmond
    • Business (30%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
    • Foreign Languages (5%)
    • Biology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Penn State 87%
  • University of Richmond 83%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Penn State $55,300
  • University of Richmond $73,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Penn State 69%
  • University of Richmond 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Penn State $26,818
  • University of Richmond $21,148
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Penn State $277
  • University of Richmond $218

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Penn State 52%
  • University of Richmond 44%
  • % Women
  • Penn State 48%
  • University of Richmond 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Penn State Medium
  • University of Richmond High
  • HBCU
  • Penn State No
  • University of Richmond No
  • % White
  • Penn State 69%
  • University of Richmond 59%
  • % Asian
  • Penn State 6%
  • University of Richmond 7%
  • % Black
  • Penn State 4%
  • University of Richmond 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Penn State 6%
  • University of Richmond 7%
  • % Native American
  • Penn State 0%
  • University of Richmond 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Penn State 0%
  • University of Richmond 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Penn State 3%
  • University of Richmond 4%
  • % International
  • Penn State 11%
  • University of Richmond 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Penn State 2%
  • University of Richmond 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Penn State 53%
  • University of Richmond 12%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Penn State 40%
  • University of Richmond 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Main Campus is larger than University of Richmond based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 3,722 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Penn State Main Campus is located in University Park, PA (Small City setting); University of Richmond is in University of Richmond, VA (Midsize City setting).
  • Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Richmond is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Main Campus 16:1; University of Richmond 7:1.

Penn State vs. University of Richmond Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State or University of Richmond? 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 University of Richmond ($27,889 vs. $30,037).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 15.6% lower than at University of Richmond ($14,474 vs. $17,140).
  • University of Richmond is 216% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $44,586 more per year; $65,230.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 56.1% higher at University of Richmond than at Penn State Main Campus (about $23,440 more per year; $65,230.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Richmond than at Penn State Main Campus (56% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Richmond students is 350.2% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($51,039 vs. $11,336).

Penn State vs. University of Richmond Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Richmond (1470) is 140 points higher than at Penn State (1330).
  • Incoming University of Richmond students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 29 at Penn State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420; University of Richmond 1410/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Main Campus 27/32; University of Richmond 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State - Test optional; University of Richmond - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: University of Richmond Jan 1, 2027.
  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than University of Richmond (22.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at Penn State vs. 23.5% at University of Richmond.

Penn State vs. University of Richmond Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State and University of Richmond? 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 University of Richmond's (83%).
  • Graduates from University of Richmond earn a median of about $18,600 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($73,900 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Richmond graduates have a $5,670 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($21,148 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, University of Richmond graduates have an estimated $59 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($218 vs. $277).
  • More University of Richmond graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (75% 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.