Penn State vs. University of Scranton

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

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • University of Scranton Scranton, PA
  • Setting
  • Penn State Small City
  • University of Scranton Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Penn State 50,737
  • University of Scranton 4,724
  • Type
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • University of Scranton Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Penn State #185
  • University of Scranton #219
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Penn State -
  • University of Scranton Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • University of Scranton Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Penn State
  • University of Scranton

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Penn State $20,644
  • University of Scranton $53,983
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Penn State $41,790
  • University of Scranton $53,983
  • Room & Board
  • Penn State $14,474
  • University of Scranton $17,380
  • Average Net Price
  • Penn State $27,889
  • University of Scranton $34,234
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Penn State $11,336
  • University of Scranton $35,606
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Penn State 37%
  • University of Scranton 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Penn State 88,478
  • University of Scranton 9,666
  • Admitted
  • Penn State 53,579
  • University of Scranton 7,852
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • University of Scranton 81.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • University of Scranton 11.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Penn State 1330
  • University of Scranton 1240
  • Typical ACT score
  • Penn State 29
  • University of Scranton 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Penn State -
  • University of Scranton 3.56
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Penn State -
  • University of Scranton A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Penn State Very High
  • University of Scranton Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Penn State Low
  • University of Scranton
  • ACT Range
  • Penn State 27/32
  • University of Scranton 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • University of Scranton 1160/1318
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Penn State Test optional
  • University of Scranton Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Penn State
  • University of Scranton Mar 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Penn State 16:1
  • University of Scranton 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • University of Scranton
    • Business (20%)
    • Education (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Communication (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Penn State 87%
  • University of Scranton 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Penn State $55,300
  • University of Scranton $62,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Penn State 69%
  • University of Scranton 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Penn State $26,818
  • University of Scranton $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Penn State $277
  • University of Scranton $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Penn State 52%
  • University of Scranton 43%
  • % Women
  • Penn State 48%
  • University of Scranton 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Penn State Medium
  • University of Scranton Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Penn State No
  • University of Scranton No
  • % White
  • Penn State 69%
  • University of Scranton 82%
  • % Asian
  • Penn State 6%
  • University of Scranton 2%
  • % Black
  • Penn State 4%
  • University of Scranton 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Penn State 6%
  • University of Scranton 9%
  • % Native American
  • Penn State 0%
  • University of Scranton 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Penn State 0%
  • University of Scranton 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Penn State 3%
  • University of Scranton 2%
  • % International
  • Penn State 11%
  • University of Scranton 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Penn State 2%
  • University of Scranton 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Penn State 53%
  • University of Scranton 45%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Penn State 40%
  • University of Scranton 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Main Campus is larger than University of Scranton based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 4,724 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Penn State Main Campus is located in University Park, PA (Small City setting); University of Scranton is in Scranton, PA (Small City setting).
  • Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Scranton is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Main Campus 16:1; University of Scranton 11:1.

Penn State vs. University of Scranton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State or University of Scranton? 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 Scranton ($27,889 vs. $34,234).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 16.7% lower than at University of Scranton ($14,474 vs. $17,380).
  • University of Scranton is 161.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $33,339 more per year; $53,983.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 29.2% higher at University of Scranton than at Penn State Main Campus (about $12,193 more per year; $53,983.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Scranton than at Penn State Main Campus (96% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Scranton students is 214.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($35,606 vs. $11,336).

Penn State vs. University of Scranton Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 90 points higher than at University of Scranton (1240).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 27 at University of Scranton).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420; University of Scranton 1160/1318.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Main Campus 27/32; University of Scranton 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State - Test optional; University of Scranton - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: University of Scranton Mar 1, 2027.
  • University of Scranton has a higher acceptance rate (81.2%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at Penn State vs. 11.3% at University of Scranton.

Penn State vs. University of Scranton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State and University of Scranton? 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 Scranton's (77%).
  • Graduates from University of Scranton earn a median of about $6,800 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 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 University of Scranton graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Penn State graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of Scranton graduates ($277 vs. $279).
  • More University of Scranton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (81% 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.