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UB Virginia Tech UD Rutgers UConn Pitt UMass Binghamton University NC State Michigan State Clemson State University of New York at New Paltz| SUNY at Albany | Penn State Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
University at Albany- SUNY | Penn State | ||
| Location | Albany, NY | University Park, PA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 16,880 | 50,399 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #242 | #171 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | albany.edu | psu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
University at Albany- SUNY | Penn State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,070 | $19,672 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $25,660 | $39,626 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,182 | $13,030 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,165 | $27,450 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,747 | $11,577 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 93% | 36% |
Admission |
University at Albany- SUNY | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 30,740 | 85,956 | ||
| Admitted | 21,477 | 46,605 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 69.9% | 54.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.2% | 19.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.3 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 22/31 | 27/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1120/1320 | 1220/1400 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Feb 1, 2026 |
Academics |
University at Albany- SUNY | Penn State | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
University at Albany- SUNY | Penn State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 64% | 87% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $55,800 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 70% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,065 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $217 | $277 |
Diversity |
University at Albany- SUNY | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 11% | 8% | ||
| % Women | 17% | 8% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 49% | 69% | ||
| % Black | 16% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 15% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 6% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 2% |
Students |
University at Albany- SUNY | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 93% | 51% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 4% | 40% | ||
Campus |
University at Albany- SUNY | Penn State | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Penn State Main Campus is larger than than University at Albany- SUNY based on total student enrollment (50,399 students vs. 16,880 students)
University at Albany- SUNY vs. Penn State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, University at Albany- SUNY or Penn State?
- Penn State Main Campus is 178.2% more expensive to attend than University at Albany- SUNY for in-state tuition ($19,672.00 vs. $7,070.00)
- Out of state tuition is 54.4% higher at Penn State than SUNY at Albany ($39,626.00 vs. $25,660.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at SUNY at Albany than Penn State ($19,165 vs. $27,450)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 24.2% lower than costs at SUNY at Albany ($13,030 vs. $16,182)
- More students receive financial grant aid at SUNY at Albany than Penn State Main Campus (93% vs. 36%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 18.8% larger than aid received SUNY at Albany ($11,577 vs. $9,747)
University at Albany- SUNY vs. Penn State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, University at Albany- SUNY or Penn State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State or University at Albany- SUNY .
- The average SAT score at Penn State Main Campus (1202) is 111 points higher than at University at Albany- SUNY (1091)
- Incoming Penn State students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at University at Albany- SUNY (24)
- University at Albany- SUNY has a higher acceptance rate (69.9%) than Penn State (54.2%)
University at Albany- SUNY vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, University at Albany- SUNY or Penn State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Penn State and University at Albany- SUNY.
- The graduation rate at Penn State is higher than SUNY at Albany (87% vs. 64%)
- Graduates from SUNY at Albany earn on average $500 more per year than Penn State graduates after ten years. ($55,800 vs. $55,300)
- SUNY at Albany students graduate with a $5,753 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($21,065 vs. $26,818)
- University at Albany- SUNY graduates are paying $60 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State graduates. ($217 vs. $277)
- More University at Albany- SUNY graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/