Penn State Shenango vs. RU

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Shenango in Sharon, PA with Radford University in Radford, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Radford University is larger than Penn State Shenango based on total student enrollment (7,812 students vs. 265 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Shenango is located in Sharon, PA (Large Suburban setting); Radford University is in Radford, VA (Distant Town setting).
• Penn State Shenango is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Radford University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Shenango 7:1; Radford University 14:1.

Penn State Shenango vs. RU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Shenango or RU? 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 Radford University than Penn State Shenango ($16,749 vs. $18,383).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Radford University are 18.1% lower than at Penn State Shenango ($12,504 vs. $15,274).
• Penn State Shenango is 11.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than RU (about $1,476 more per year; $14,024.00 vs. $12,548.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.8% higher at RU than at Penn State Shenango (about $2,073 more per year; $25,633.00 vs. $23,560.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Shenango than at Radford University (97% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Radford University students is 32.4% larger than aid received by Penn State Shenango students ($11,870 vs. $8,962).

Penn State Shenango vs. RU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Shenango or RU? 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 RU and Penn State Shenango.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Shenango (1140) is 90 points higher than at RU (1050).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Shenango 1040/1230; Radford University 940/1160.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsRadford University 19/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Shenango - Test optional; RU - Test optional.
• Penn State Shenango has a higher acceptance rate (92.2%) than RU (89.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28% at Penn State Shenango vs. 14.4% at RU.

Penn State Shenango vs. RU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Shenango and RU? 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).

• Radford University's six-year graduation rate (56%) is higher than Penn State Shenango's (44%).
• Graduates from Penn State Shenango earn a median of about $7,900 more per year than RU graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $47,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Radford University graduates have a $3,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Shenango graduates ($23,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, RU graduates have an estimated $40 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Shenango graduates ($237 vs. $277).
• More RU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Shenango students, three years after graduation. (70% 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.