Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
JMU Mason Virginia Tech Mary Washington College Old Dominion CNU Penn State Abington William & Mary UVA WCU WVU UMBC| Penn State Brandywine | Virginia Commonwealth University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Penn State Brandywine | VCU | ||
| Location | Media, PA | Richmond, VA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 1,196 | 28,082 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #729 | #442 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | psu.edu | vcu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Penn State Brandywine | VCU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $14,624 | $12,458 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $24,318 | $33,726 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,930 | $12,279 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $21,600 | $21,294 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,638 | $12,583 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 70% | 83% |
Admission |
Penn State Brandywine | VCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,440 | 18,242 | ||
| Admitted | 2,347 | 16,600 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96.2% | 91% | ||
| Enrolled % | 17% | 25.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | 3.75 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 23/31 | 22/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1070/1285 | 1030/1290 | ||
| 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 18, 2025 |
Academics |
Penn State Brandywine | VCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 16:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Penn State Brandywine | VCU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 53% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $55,300 | $47,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 69% | 56% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,818 | $23,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $277 | $240 |
Diversity |
Penn State Brandywine | VCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 61% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 39% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 63% | 50% | ||
| % Black | 15% | 18% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 6% | ||
| % International | 1% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
Penn State Brandywine | VCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 74% | 92% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 24% | 6% | ||
Campus |
Penn State Brandywine | VCU | ||
| Campus Housing | No | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | No | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Virginia Commonwealth University is larger than than Penn State Brandywine based on total student enrollment (28,082 students vs. 1,196 students)
Penn State Brandywine vs. VCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Penn State Brandywine or VCU?
- Penn State Brandywine is 17.4% more expensive to attend than VCU for in-state tuition ($14,624.00 vs. $12,458.00)
- Out of state tuition is 38.7% higher at VCU than Penn State Brandywine ($33,726.00 vs. $24,318.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Virginia Commonwealth University than Penn State Brandywine ($21,294 vs. $21,600)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Commonwealth University are 13.4% lower than costs at Penn State Brandywine ($12,279 vs. $13,930)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Virginia Commonwealth University than Penn State Brandywine (83% vs. 70%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Commonwealth University students is 30.6% larger than aid received Penn State Brandywine ($12,583 vs. $9,638)
Penn State Brandywine vs. VCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Brandywine or VCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between VCU or Penn State Brandywine .
- The average SAT score at Virginia Commonwealth University (1097) is 128 points higher than at Penn State Brandywine (969)
- Incoming VCU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Penn State Brandywine (22)
- Penn State Brandywine has a higher acceptance rate (96.2%) than VCU (91%)
Penn State Brandywine vs. VCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Penn State Brandywine or VCU? 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 VCU and Penn State Brandywine.
- The graduation rate at VCU is higher than Penn State Brandywine (53% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Penn State Brandywine earn on average $7,800 more per year than VCU graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $47,500)
- Virginia Commonwealth University students graduate with a $3,568 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Brandywine graduates. ($23,250 vs. $26,818)
- VCU graduates are paying $37 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Brandywine graduates. ($240 vs. $277)
- More Penn State Brandywine 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/