SAU vs. Penn State Beaver

Comparable Facts

Compare Spring Arbor University in Spring Arbor, MI with Penn State Beaver in Monaca, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Spring Arbor University is larger than Penn State Beaver based on total student enrollment (2,441 students vs. 482 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Spring Arbor University is located in Spring Arbor, MI (Small Suburban setting); Penn State Beaver is in Monaca, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Spring Arbor University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Beaver is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Spring Arbor University 12:1; Penn State Beaver 12:1.

SAU vs. Penn State Beaver Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SAU or Penn State Beaver? 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 Beaver than SAU ($18,581 vs. $21,067).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Spring Arbor University are 21% lower than at Penn State Beaver ($11,440 vs. $14,474).
• Spring Arbor University is 136.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Beaver (about $19,606 more per year; $34,014.00 vs. $14,408.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 40.9% higher at SAU than at Penn State Beaver (about $9,880 more per year; $34,014.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Spring Arbor University than at Penn State Beaver (100% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Spring Arbor University students is 164% larger than aid received by Penn State Beaver students ($23,877 vs. $9,045).

SAU vs. Penn State Beaver Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Beaver (1190) is 60 points higher than at SAU (1130).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Spring Arbor University 1010/1240; Penn State Beaver 1080/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPenn State Beaver 24/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SAU - Test optional; Penn State Beaver - Test optional.
• Penn State Beaver has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than SAU (51.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.5% at SAU vs. 9.5% at Penn State Beaver.

SAU vs. Penn State Beaver Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SAU and Penn State Beaver? 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).

• Spring Arbor University's six-year graduation rate (56%) is higher than Penn State Beaver's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Beaver earn a median of about $12,700 more per year than SAU graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $42,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Spring Arbor University graduates have a $2,775 lower median loan debt than Penn State Beaver graduates ($24,043 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, SAU graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Beaver graduates ($248 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Beaver graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SAU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 58%)

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.