Penn State Beaver vs. Roanoke College

Comparable Facts

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

Roanoke College is larger than Penn State Beaver based on total student enrollment (1,804 students vs. 482 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Beaver is located in Monaca, PA (Large Suburban setting); Roanoke College is in Salem, VA (Midsize Suburban setting).
• Penn State Beaver is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Roanoke College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Beaver 12:1; Roanoke College 11:1.

Penn State Beaver vs. Roanoke College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Beaver 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 Beaver than Roanoke College ($18,581 vs. $26,044).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Beaver are 5.8% lower than at Roanoke College ($14,474 vs. $15,366).
• Roanoke College is 164.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Beaver (about $23,660 more per year; $38,068.00 vs. $14,408.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 57.7% higher at Roanoke College than at Penn State Beaver (about $13,934 more per year; $38,068.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Roanoke College than at Penn State Beaver (100% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Roanoke College students is 211.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Beaver students ($28,188 vs. $9,045).

Penn State Beaver vs. Roanoke College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Beaver 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 Beaver.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Roanoke College (1200) is 10 points higher than at Penn State Beaver (1190).
• Incoming Roanoke College students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 25 at Penn State Beaver).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Beaver 1080/1290; Roanoke College 1090/1300.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Beaver 24/27; Roanoke College 24/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Beaver - Test optional; Roanoke College - Test optional.
• Penn State Beaver has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than Roanoke College (83.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.5% at Penn State Beaver vs. 9.7% at Roanoke College.

Penn State Beaver vs. Roanoke College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Beaver 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 Beaver's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Beaver 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 Beaver graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Roanoke College graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Beaver 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 Beaver 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.