Penn State York vs. Penn

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State York in York, PA with University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Pennsylvania is larger than Penn State York based on total student enrollment (29,109 students vs. 677 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State York is located in York, PA (Midsize Suburban setting); University of Pennsylvania is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
• Penn State York is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pennsylvania is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State York 14:1; University of Pennsylvania 8:1.

Penn State York vs. Penn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State York or Penn? 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 Penn ($18,887 vs. $23,570).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State York are 20.3% lower than at University of Pennsylvania ($15,274 vs. $19,174).
• University of Pennsylvania is 351.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State York (about $53,478 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 170.5% higher at Penn than at Penn State York (about $43,294 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State York than at University of Pennsylvania (80% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pennsylvania students is 647.6% larger than aid received by Penn State York students ($65,458 vs. $8,756).

Penn State York vs. Penn Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Pennsylvania (1540) is 390 points higher than at Penn State York (1150).
• Incoming Penn students have a 10 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 25 at Penn State York).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State York 1050/1245; University of Pennsylvania 1510/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State York 22/28; University of Pennsylvania 34/36.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State York - Test optional; Penn - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: Penn Jan 5, 2027.
• Penn State York has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than Penn (5.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.7% at Penn State York vs. 68% at Penn.

Penn State York vs. Penn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• University of Pennsylvania's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Penn State York's (45%).
• Graduates from University of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $68,300 more per year than Penn State York graduates about ten years after starting college ($123,600 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Pennsylvania graduates have a $6,185 lower median loan debt than Penn State York graduates ($20,633 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Penn graduates have an estimated $64 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State York graduates ($213 vs. $277).
• More Penn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State York students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.