Penn State vs. UVM

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

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • UVM Burlington, VT
  • Setting
  • Penn State Small City
  • UVM Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Penn State 50,737
  • UVM 14,476
  • Type
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • UVM Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Penn State #185
  • UVM #205
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Penn State -
  • UVM -
  • Status
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • UVM Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Penn State
  • UVM

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Penn State $20,644
  • UVM $19,058
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Penn State $41,790
  • UVM $45,502
  • Room & Board
  • Penn State $14,474
  • UVM $13,776
  • Average Net Price
  • Penn State $27,889
  • UVM $20,084
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Penn State $11,336
  • UVM $19,897
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Penn State 37%
  • UVM 93%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Penn State 88,478
  • UVM 27,138
  • Admitted
  • Penn State 53,579
  • UVM 17,722
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • UVM 65.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • UVM 15.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Penn State 1330
  • UVM 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • Penn State 29
  • UVM 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Penn State -
  • UVM 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Penn State -
  • UVM A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Penn State Very High
  • UVM Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Penn State Low
  • UVM Low
  • ACT Range
  • Penn State 27/32
  • UVM 30/32
  • SAT Range
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • UVM 1290/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Penn State Test optional
  • UVM Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Penn State
  • UVM Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Penn State 16:1
  • UVM 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • UVM
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (8%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Penn State 87%
  • UVM 72%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Penn State $55,300
  • UVM $53,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Penn State 69%
  • UVM 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Penn State $26,818
  • UVM $22,300
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Penn State $277
  • UVM $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Penn State 52%
  • UVM 37%
  • % Women
  • Penn State 48%
  • UVM 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Penn State Medium
  • UVM Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Penn State No
  • UVM No
  • % White
  • Penn State 69%
  • UVM 82%
  • % Asian
  • Penn State 6%
  • UVM 3%
  • % Black
  • Penn State 4%
  • UVM 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • Penn State 6%
  • UVM 4%
  • % Native American
  • Penn State 0%
  • UVM 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Penn State 0%
  • UVM 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Penn State 3%
  • UVM 3%
  • % International
  • Penn State 11%
  • UVM 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Penn State 2%
  • UVM 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Penn State 53%
  • UVM 20%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Penn State 40%
  • UVM 78%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Main Campus is larger than UVM based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 14,476 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Penn State Main Campus is located in University Park, PA (Small City setting); University of Vermont is in Burlington, VT (Small City setting).
  • Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Vermont is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Main Campus 16:1; University of Vermont 17:1.

Penn State vs. UVM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State or UVM? 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 University of Vermont than Penn State ($20,084 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Vermont are 4.8% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($13,776 vs. $14,474).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 8.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UVM (about $1,586 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $19,058.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.9% higher at UVM than at Penn State Main Campus (about $3,712 more per year; $45,502.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Vermont than at Penn State Main Campus (93% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Vermont students is 75.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($19,897 vs. $11,336).

Penn State vs. UVM Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State or UVM? 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 UVM and Penn State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Vermont (1370) is 40 points higher than at Penn State (1330).
  • Incoming UVM students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 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 Vermont 1290/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Main Campus 27/32; University of Vermont 30/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State - Test optional; UVM - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UVM Jan 15, 2027.
  • UVM has a higher acceptance rate (65.3%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at Penn State vs. 15.8% at UVM.

Penn State vs. UVM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State and UVM? 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 Vermont's (72%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than UVM graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $53,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Vermont graduates have a $4,518 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($22,300 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, UVM graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($230 vs. $277).
  • More UVM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (83% 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.