Penn State Abington vs. Roanoke College

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Abington in Abington, PA with Roanoke College in Salem, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Abington is larger than Roanoke College based on total student enrollment (2,885 students vs. 1,804 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Abington is located in Abington, PA (Large Suburban setting); Roanoke College is in Salem, VA (Midsize Suburban setting).
• Penn State Abington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Roanoke College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Abington 14:1; Roanoke College 11:1.

Penn State Abington vs. Roanoke College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Abington or Roanoke College? 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 Abington than Roanoke College ($19,232 vs. $26,044).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Abington are 5.8% lower than at Roanoke College ($14,474 vs. $15,366).
• Roanoke College is 149.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Abington (about $22,800 more per year; $38,068.00 vs. $15,268.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 48.3% higher at Roanoke College than at Penn State Abington (about $12,404 more per year; $38,068.00 vs. $25,664.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Roanoke College than at Penn State Abington (100% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Roanoke College students is 185.2% larger than aid received by Penn State Abington students ($28,188 vs. $9,883).

Penn State Abington vs. Roanoke College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Abington or Roanoke College? 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 Roanoke College and Penn State Abington.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Roanoke College (1200) is 30 points higher than at Penn State Abington (1170).
• Incoming Roanoke College students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 25 at Penn State Abington).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Abington 1070/1265; Roanoke College 1090/1300.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Abington 23/27; Roanoke College 24/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Abington - Test optional; Roanoke College - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Roanoke College students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at Penn State Abington (3.42).
• Penn State Abington has a higher acceptance rate (96.8%) than Roanoke College (83.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.2% at Penn State Abington vs. 9.7% at Roanoke College.

Penn State Abington vs. Roanoke College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Abington and Roanoke College? 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).

• Roanoke College's six-year graduation rate (69%) is higher than Penn State Abington's (44%).
• Graduates from Penn State Abington earn a median of about $4,100 more per year than Roanoke College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $51,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Abington graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Roanoke College graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Abington graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Roanoke College graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Roanoke College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Abington 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.