Penn State Beaver vs. VCU

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Beaver in Monaca, PA with Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Virginia Commonwealth University is larger than Penn State Beaver based on total student enrollment (28,464 students vs. 482 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Beaver is located in Monaca, PA (Large Suburban setting); Virginia Commonwealth University is in Richmond, VA (Midsize City setting).
• Penn State Beaver is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Commonwealth University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Beaver 12:1; Virginia Commonwealth University 17:1.

Penn State Beaver vs. VCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Beaver or VCU? 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 VCU ($18,581 vs. $26,836).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Beaver are 20.7% lower than at Virginia Commonwealth University ($14,474 vs. $18,254).
• Virginia Commonwealth University is 17.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Beaver (about $2,537 more per year; $16,945.00 vs. $14,408.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 66.2% higher at VCU than at Penn State Beaver (about $15,975 more per year; $40,109.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Beaver as at Virginia Commonwealth University (88% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Commonwealth University students is 56.8% larger than aid received by Penn State Beaver students ($14,186 vs. $9,045).

Penn State Beaver vs. VCU Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Beaver (1190) is 50 points higher than at VCU (1140).
• Incoming VCU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 25 at Penn State Beaver).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Beaver 1080/1290; Virginia Commonwealth University 1010/1270.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Beaver 24/27; Virginia Commonwealth University 22/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Beaver - Test optional; VCU - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: VCU Jan 18, 2027.
• Penn State Beaver has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than VCU (92.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.5% at Penn State Beaver vs. 21.6% at VCU.

Penn State Beaver vs. VCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Beaver and VCU? 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).

• Virginia Commonwealth University's six-year graduation rate (53%) is higher than Penn State Beaver's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Beaver earn a median of about $7,800 more per year than VCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $47,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Virginia Commonwealth University graduates have a $3,568 lower median loan debt than Penn State Beaver graduates ($23,250 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, VCU graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Beaver graduates ($240 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Beaver graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VCU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 56%)

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.