State University of New York at New Paltz vs. Penn State

Deciding between State University of New York at New Paltz 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.

State University of New York at New Paltz
Penn State Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • State University of New York at New Paltz New Paltz, NY
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Town Fringe
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 7,898
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • State University of New York at New Paltz #288
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • State University of New York at New Paltz -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • State University of New York at New Paltz
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $8,572
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $18,822
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $16,684
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $18,051
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $10,087
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 71%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Calculate
  • Penn State Calculate
  • Applied
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 17,232
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 10,616
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 61.6%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 10.7%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 1260
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 27
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 3.6
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • State University of New York at New Paltz A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Difficult
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 25/29
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 1170/1340
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Apr 1, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 16:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • State University of New York at New Paltz
    • Education (22%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 69%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $47,400
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 72%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $19,000
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $196
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 36%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 64%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Medium
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • State University of New York at New Paltz No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 63%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 6%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 6%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 17%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 2%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 2%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 4%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 93%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 6%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • State University of New York at New Paltz No
  • Penn State Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • State University of New York at New Paltz No
  • Penn State Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Learn More
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Details
  • Penn State Details

Comparable Facts

Compare State University of New York at New Paltz in New Paltz, 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 State University of New York at New Paltz based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 7,898 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • State University of New York at New Paltz is located in New Paltz, NY (Town Fringe setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • State University of New York at New Paltz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: State University of New York at New Paltz 16:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

State University of New York at New Paltz vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, State University of New York at New Paltz 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 State University of New York at New Paltz than Penn State ($18,051 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 13.2% lower than at State University of New York at New Paltz ($14,474 vs. $16,684).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 140.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than State University of New York at New Paltz (about $12,072 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $8,572.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 122% higher at Penn State than at State University of New York at New Paltz (about $22,968 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $18,822.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at State University of New York at New Paltz than at Penn State Main Campus (71% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 12.4% larger than aid received by State University of New York at New Paltz students ($11,336 vs. $10,087).

State University of New York at New Paltz vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, State University of New York at New Paltz 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 State University of New York at New Paltz.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 70 points higher than at State University of New York at New Paltz (1260).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 27 at State University of New York at New Paltz).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: State University of New York at New Paltz 1170/1340; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: State University of New York at New Paltz 25/29; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: State University of New York at New Paltz - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: State University of New York at New Paltz Apr 1, 2027.
  • State University of New York at New Paltz has a higher acceptance rate (61.6%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.7% at State University of New York at New Paltz vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

State University of New York at New Paltz vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for State University of New York at New Paltz 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 State University of New York at New Paltz's (69%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $7,900 more per year than State University of New York at New Paltz graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $47,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, State University of New York at New Paltz graduates have a $7,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($19,000 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, State University of New York at New Paltz graduates have an estimated $81 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($196 vs. $277).
  • More State University of New York at New Paltz 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.