Penn State vs. Washington and Lee

Should I go to Penn State Main Campus or Washington and Lee University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Penn State or Washington and Lee 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

Virginia Tech UD Rutgers UConn Pitt UMass UB NC State Michigan State William & Mary Davidson University of Richmond
Penn State Main Campus vs. Washington and Lee University comparison
Penn State Main Campus Washington and Lee University College 3 College 4
Penn State Main Campus Washington and Lee University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Penn State Washington and Lee
Location University Park, PA Lexington, VA
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 50,028 2,243
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #167 #30
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website psu.edu wlu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Penn State Washington and Lee
Tuition (In State) $18,368 $60,590
Tuition (Out of State) $35,946 $60,590
Room & Board $12,744 $16,920
Avg Net Price $26,747 $24,733
Avg Grant Aid $10,066 $55,567
% Receiving Grant Aid 44% 61%

Admission

Penn State Washington and Lee
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 85,784 7,224
Admitted 47,360 1,225
Acceptance Rate 55.2% 17%
Enrolled % 19.5% 38.9%
Avg High School GPA - 3.87
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Very High
ACT Range 26/31 32/34
SAT Range 1210/1390 1410/1533
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 Jan 1, 2025

Academics

Penn State Washington and Lee
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Social Sciences (21%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • History (7%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

Penn State Washington and Lee
Graduation Rate 87% 91%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $55,300 $89,000
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 88%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,818 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $277 $222

Diversity

Penn State Washington and Lee
% Men 53% 49%
% Women 47% 51%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 69% 82%
% Black 4% 2%
% Hispanic 6% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 11% 4%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

Penn State Washington and Lee
% In-State 51% 18%
% Out-of-State 40% 73%

Campus

Penn State Washington and Lee
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Penn State Main Campus is larger than than Washington and Lee based on total student enrollment (50,028 students vs. 2,243 students)

Penn State vs. Washington and Lee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State or Washington and Lee?

  • Washington and Lee University is 229.9% more expensive to attend than Penn State for in-state tuition ($60,590.00 vs. $18,368.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 68.6% higher at Washington and Lee than Penn State Main Campus ($60,590.00 vs. $35,946.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Washington and Lee University than Penn State ($24,733 vs. $26,747)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 32.8% lower than costs at Washington and Lee University ($12,744 vs. $16,920)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Washington and Lee University than Penn State Main Campus (61% vs. 44%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Washington and Lee University students is 452% larger than aid received Penn State Main Campus ($55,567 vs. $10,066)

Penn State vs. Washington and Lee Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Washington and Lee University (1395) is 193 points higher than at Penn State (1202)
  • Incoming Washington and Lee students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at Penn State (27)
  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (55.2%) than Washington and Lee (17%)

Penn State vs. Washington and Lee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Penn State or Washington and Lee? 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 Washington and Lee and Penn State.

  • The graduation rate at Washington and Lee is higher than Penn State Main Campus (91% vs. 87%)
  • Graduates from Washington and Lee University earn on average $33,700 more per year than Penn State graduates after ten years. ($89,000 vs. $55,300)
  • Washington and Lee University students graduate with a $5,318 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($21,500 vs. $26,818)
  • Washington and Lee graduates are paying $55 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State graduates. ($222 vs. $277)
  • More Washington and Lee graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/