Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania vs. Penn State

Deciding between Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania and Penn State Main Campus? 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.

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock, PA
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Distant Town
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 8,376
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania #695
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Website
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania sru.edu
  • Penn State psu.edu
  • Team Colors
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania $10,568
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania $14,676
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania $10,902
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania $18,252
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania $6,862
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 72%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Calculate
  • Penn State Calculate
  • Applied
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 6,464
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 4,620
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 71.5%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 33.5%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 1090
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 22
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 3.5
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Easy
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 18/26
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 980/1190
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 20:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
    • Education (20%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (10%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 59%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania $42,000
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 72%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania $25,000
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania $258
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 41%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 59%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Very Low
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 86%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 1%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 5%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 2%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 3%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 1%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 1%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 89%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 10%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania No
  • Penn State Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania No
  • Penn State Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Learn More
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Details
  • Penn State Details

Comparable Facts

Compare Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania in Slippery Rock, PA with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 8,376 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is located in Slippery Rock, PA (Distant Town setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 20:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania or Penn State? 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 Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania than Penn State ($18,252 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania are 24.7% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($10,902 vs. $14,474).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 95.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (about $10,076 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $10,568.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 184.8% higher at Penn State than at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (about $27,114 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $14,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania than at Penn State Main Campus (72% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 65.2% larger than aid received by Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania students ($11,336 vs. $6,862).

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania or Penn State? 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 State and Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 240 points higher than at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (1090).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 22 at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 980/1190; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 18/26; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 33.5% at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania and Penn State? 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).

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania's (59%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $13,300 more per year than Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $42,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania graduates have a $1,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($258 vs. $277).
  • More Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (72% 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.