Penn State Brandywine vs. Roanoke College

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Brandywine in Media, 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 Brandywine based on total student enrollment (1,804 students vs. 1,236 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Brandywine is located in Media, PA (Large Suburban setting); Roanoke College is in Salem, VA (Midsize Suburban setting).
• Penn State Brandywine is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Roanoke College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Brandywine 15:1; Roanoke College 11:1.

Penn State Brandywine vs. Roanoke College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Brandywine 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 Brandywine than Roanoke College ($22,710 vs. $26,044).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Brandywine are 5.8% lower than at Roanoke College ($14,474 vs. $15,366).
• Roanoke College is 150.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Brandywine (about $22,860 more per year; $38,068.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 49.9% higher at Roanoke College than at Penn State Brandywine (about $12,676 more per year; $38,068.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Roanoke College than at Penn State Brandywine (100% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Roanoke College students is 209.3% larger than aid received by Penn State Brandywine students ($28,188 vs. $9,113).

Penn State Brandywine vs. Roanoke College Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Brandywine (1200) is the same as at Roanoke College (1200).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Brandywine 1080/1310; Roanoke College 1090/1300.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsRoanoke College 24/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Brandywine - Test optional; Roanoke College - Test optional.
• Penn State Brandywine has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Roanoke College (83.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.8% at Penn State Brandywine vs. 9.7% at Roanoke College.

Penn State Brandywine vs. Roanoke College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Brandywine 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 Brandywine's (37%).
• Graduates from Penn State Brandywine 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 Brandywine graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Roanoke College graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Brandywine 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 Brandywine 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.