St Lawrence University vs. Penn State

Deciding between St Lawrence University 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.

St Lawrence University
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • St Lawrence University Canton, NY
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • St Lawrence University Remote Town
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • St Lawrence University 1,991
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • St Lawrence University Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • St Lawrence University #145
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • St Lawrence University -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • St Lawrence University Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • St Lawrence University
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • St Lawrence University $65,900
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • St Lawrence University $65,900
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • St Lawrence University $17,000
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • St Lawrence University $33,216
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • St Lawrence University $48,784
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • St Lawrence University 99%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • St Lawrence University 6,089
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • St Lawrence University 3,309
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • St Lawrence University 54.3%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • St Lawrence University 12.8%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • St Lawrence University 1340
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • St Lawrence University 31
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • St Lawrence University 3.6
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • St Lawrence University A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • St Lawrence University Very High
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • St Lawrence University Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • St Lawrence University 30/33
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • St Lawrence University 1255/1420
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • St Lawrence University Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • St Lawrence University Feb 1, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • St Lawrence University 11:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • St Lawrence University
    • Social Sciences (30%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • St Lawrence University 80%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • St Lawrence University $53,100
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • St Lawrence University 85%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • St Lawrence University $27,000
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • St Lawrence University $279
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • St Lawrence University 48%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • St Lawrence University 52%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • St Lawrence University Low
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • St Lawrence University No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • St Lawrence University 79%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • St Lawrence University 2%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • St Lawrence University 3%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • St Lawrence University 5%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • St Lawrence University 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • St Lawrence University 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • St Lawrence University 2%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • St Lawrence University 8%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • St Lawrence University 0%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • St Lawrence University 36%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • St Lawrence University 50%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • St Lawrence University Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • St Lawrence University No
  • Penn State Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • St Lawrence University Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • St Lawrence University No
  • Penn State Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • St Lawrence University No
  • Penn State Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare St Lawrence University in Canton, NY 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 St Lawrence University based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 1,991 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • St Lawrence University is located in Canton, NY (Remote Town setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • St Lawrence University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: St Lawrence University 11:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

St Lawrence University vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, St Lawrence University 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 Penn State Main Campus than St Lawrence University ($27,889 vs. $33,216).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 14.9% lower than at St Lawrence University ($14,474 vs. $17,000).
  • St Lawrence University is 219.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $45,256 more per year; $65,900.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 57.7% higher at St Lawrence University than at Penn State Main Campus (about $24,110 more per year; $65,900.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at St Lawrence University than at Penn State Main Campus (99% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by St Lawrence University students is 330.3% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($48,784 vs. $11,336).

St Lawrence University vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, St Lawrence University 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 St Lawrence University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at St Lawrence University (1340) is 10 points higher than at Penn State (1330).
  • Incoming St Lawrence University students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 29 at Penn State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: St Lawrence University 1255/1420; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: St Lawrence University 30/33; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: St Lawrence University - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: St Lawrence University Feb 1, 2027.
  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than St Lawrence University (54.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.8% at St Lawrence University vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

St Lawrence University vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for St Lawrence University 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 St Lawrence University's (80%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $2,200 more per year than St Lawrence University graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $53,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Main Campus graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than St Lawrence University graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Penn State graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than St Lawrence University graduates ($277 vs. $279).
  • More St Lawrence University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (85% 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.