Penn State Greater Allegheny vs. VCU

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Greater Allegheny in McKeesport, 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 Greater Allegheny based on total student enrollment (28,464 students vs. 352 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Greater Allegheny is located in McKeesport, PA (Large Suburban setting); Virginia Commonwealth University is in Richmond, VA (Midsize City setting).
• Penn State Greater Allegheny 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 Greater Allegheny 9:1; Virginia Commonwealth University 17:1.

Penn State Greater Allegheny vs. VCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Greater Allegheny 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 Greater Allegheny than VCU ($15,574 vs. $26,836).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Greater Allegheny 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 Greater Allegheny (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 Greater Allegheny (about $15,975 more per year; $40,109.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Commonwealth University than at Penn State Greater Allegheny (88% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Commonwealth University students is 27.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Greater Allegheny students ($14,186 vs. $11,121).

Penn State Greater Allegheny vs. VCU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Greater Allegheny or VCU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between VCU and Penn State Greater Allegheny.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Penn State Greater Allegheny (1180) is 40 points higher than at VCU (1140).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Penn State Greater Allegheny 1080/1280; Virginia Commonwealth University 1010/1270.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresVirginia Commonwealth University 22/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Greater Allegheny - Test optional; VCU - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: VCU Jan 18, 2027.
• Penn State Greater Allegheny has a higher acceptance rate (96.5%) than VCU (92.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.5% at Penn State Greater Allegheny vs. 21.6% at VCU.

Penn State Greater Allegheny vs. VCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Greater Allegheny and VCU? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Virginia Commonwealth University's six-year graduation rate (53%) is higher than Penn State Greater Allegheny's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Greater Allegheny 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 Greater Allegheny graduates ($23,250 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, VCU graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Greater Allegheny graduates ($240 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Greater Allegheny 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.