Penn State vs. University of Scranton

Should I go to Penn State Main Campus or University of Scranton? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Penn State or University of Scranton is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Penn State Main Campus vs. University of Scranton comparison
Penn State Main Campus University of Scranton College 3 College 4
Penn State Main Campus University of Scranton
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Overview

Penn State University of Scranton
Location University Park, PA Scranton, PA
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 50,028 4,731
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #167 #217
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website psu.edu scranton.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Penn State University of Scranton
Tuition (In State) $18,368 $49,912
Tuition (Out of State) $35,946 $49,912
Room & Board $12,744 $16,490
Avg Net Price $26,747 $35,526
Avg Grant Aid $10,066 $30,218
% Receiving Grant Aid 44% 98%

Admission

Penn State University of Scranton
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 85,784 9,530
Admitted 47,360 8,039
Acceptance Rate 55.2% 84.4%
Enrolled % 19.5% 13.2%
Avg High School GPA - 3.56
Typical High School Grades - B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 26/31 25/31
SAT Range 1210/1390 1150/1320
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 Mar 1, 2025

Academics

Penn State University of Scranton
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Communication (7%)

Outcomes

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

Diversity

Penn State University of Scranton
% Men 53% 42%
% Women 47% 58%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 69% 82%
% Black 4% 2%
% Hispanic 6% 9%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 11% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

Penn State University of Scranton
% In-State 51% 44%
% Out-of-State 40% 56%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Penn State Main Campus is larger than than University of Scranton based on total student enrollment (50,028 students vs. 4,731 students)

Penn State vs. University of Scranton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State or University of Scranton?

  • University of Scranton is 171.7% more expensive to attend than Penn State for in-state tuition ($49,912.00 vs. $18,368.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 38.9% higher at University of Scranton than Penn State Main Campus ($49,912.00 vs. $35,946.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Main Campus than University of Scranton ($26,747 vs. $35,526)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 29.4% lower than costs at University of Scranton ($12,744 vs. $16,490)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Scranton than Penn State Main Campus (98% vs. 44%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Scranton students is 200.2% larger than aid received Penn State Main Campus ($30,218 vs. $10,066)

Penn State vs. University of Scranton Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State or University of Scranton? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between University of Scranton or Penn State .

  • The average SAT score at Penn State Main Campus (1202) is 68 points higher than at University of Scranton (1134)
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at University of Scranton (25)
  • University of Scranton has a higher acceptance rate (84.4%) than Penn State (55.2%)

Penn State vs. University of Scranton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Penn State or University of Scranton? 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 University of Scranton and Penn State.

  • The graduation rate at Penn State is higher than University of Scranton (87% vs. 77%)
  • Graduates from University of Scranton earn on average $6,800 more per year than Penn State graduates after ten years. ($62,100 vs. $55,300)
  • Penn State Main Campus students graduate with a $182 lower median federal student loan debt than University of Scranton graduates. ($26,818 vs. $27,000)
  • Penn State graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans 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/