Penn State York vs. SU

Deciding between Penn State York and Shenandoah University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Shenandoah University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Penn State York York, PA
  • SU Winchester, VA
  • Setting
  • Penn State York Midsize Suburban
  • SU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Penn State York 677
  • SU 4,454
  • Type
  • Penn State York Public 4 Year
  • SU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Penn State York
  • SU #528
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Penn State York -
  • SU United Methodist
  • Status
  • Penn State York Non-profit
  • SU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Penn State York
  • SU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Penn State York $15,208
  • SU $36,950
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Penn State York $25,392
  • SU $36,950
  • Room & Board
  • Penn State York $15,274
  • SU $12,490
  • Average Net Price
  • Penn State York $18,887
  • SU $27,181
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Penn State York $8,756
  • SU $24,747
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Penn State York 80%
  • SU 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Penn State York 1,933
  • SU 4,200
  • Admitted
  • Penn State York 1,883
  • SU 3,232
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Penn State York 97.4%
  • SU 77%
  • Enrolled
  • Penn State York 10.7%
  • SU 16.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Penn State York 1150
  • SU 1120
  • Typical ACT score
  • Penn State York 25
  • SU 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • Penn State York -
  • SU 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Penn State York -
  • SU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Penn State York Average
  • SU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • Penn State York
  • SU
  • ACT Range
  • Penn State York 22/28
  • SU 19/26
  • SAT Range
  • Penn State York 1050/1245
  • SU 1010/1230
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Penn State York Test optional
  • SU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Penn State York
  • SU Aug 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Penn State York 14:1
  • SU 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Penn State York
    • Business (32%)
    • Work and Family Studies (24%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Engineering Technology (9%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • SU
    • Health Professions (36%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (17%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Biology (4%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Penn State York 45%
  • SU 45%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Penn State York $55,300
  • SU $48,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Penn State York 69%
  • SU 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Penn State York $26,818
  • SU $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Penn State York $277
  • SU $258
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Penn State York 62%
  • SU 30%
  • % Women
  • Penn State York 38%
  • SU 70%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Penn State York Medium
  • SU Medium
  • HBCU
  • Penn State York No
  • SU No
  • % White
  • Penn State York 63%
  • SU 59%
  • % Asian
  • Penn State York 5%
  • SU 3%
  • % Black
  • Penn State York 6%
  • SU 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Penn State York 6%
  • SU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Penn State York 0%
  • SU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Penn State York 0%
  • SU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Penn State York 3%
  • SU 4%
  • % International
  • Penn State York 15%
  • SU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Penn State York 2%
  • SU 13%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Penn State York 85%
  • SU 61%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Penn State York 13%
  • SU 38%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Penn State York No
  • SU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Penn State York No
  • SU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Penn State York No
  • SU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Penn State York Yes
  • SU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Penn State York No
  • SU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State York in York, PA with Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Shenandoah University is larger than Penn State York based on total student enrollment (4,454 students vs. 677 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Penn State York is located in York, PA (Midsize Suburban setting); Shenandoah University is in Winchester, VA (Small City setting).
  • Penn State York is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Shenandoah University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State York 14:1; Shenandoah University 12:1.

Penn State York vs. SU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State York or SU? 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 York than SU ($18,887 vs. $27,181).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shenandoah University are 18.2% lower than at Penn State York ($12,490 vs. $15,274).
  • Shenandoah University is 143% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State York (about $21,742 more per year; $36,950.00 vs. $15,208.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 45.5% higher at SU than at Penn State York (about $11,558 more per year; $36,950.00 vs. $25,392.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Shenandoah University than at Penn State York (100% vs. 80%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shenandoah University students is 182.6% larger than aid received by Penn State York students ($24,747 vs. $8,756).

Penn State York vs. SU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State York or SU? 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 SU and Penn State York.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State York (1150) is 30 points higher than at SU (1120).
  • Incoming Penn State York students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 22 at SU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State York 1050/1245; Shenandoah University 1010/1230.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State York 22/28; Shenandoah University 19/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State York - Test optional; SU - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SU Aug 1, 2027.
  • Penn State York has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than SU (77%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.7% at Penn State York vs. 16.7% at SU.

Penn State York vs. SU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State York and SU? 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).

  • The graduation rate at Penn State York is the same as at Shenandoah University (45% vs. 45%).
  • Graduates from Penn State York earn a median of about $7,000 more per year than SU graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $48,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Shenandoah University graduates have a $1,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State York graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, SU graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State York graduates ($258 vs. $277).
  • More Penn State York graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 60%)

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.