University at Albany- SUNY vs. Penn State

Deciding between University at Albany 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.

University at Albany
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • University at Albany- SUNY Albany, NY
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • University at Albany- SUNY Small City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • University at Albany- SUNY 17,560
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • University at Albany- SUNY Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University at Albany- SUNY #223
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University at Albany- SUNY -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • University at Albany- SUNY Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • University at Albany- SUNY
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University at Albany- SUNY $10,866
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University at Albany- SUNY $31,256
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • University at Albany- SUNY $16,423
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • University at Albany- SUNY $17,949
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University at Albany- SUNY $11,210
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University at Albany- SUNY 96%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • University at Albany- SUNY 32,442
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • University at Albany- SUNY 22,416
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University at Albany- SUNY 69.1%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • University at Albany- SUNY 12.6%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University at Albany- SUNY 1220
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • University at Albany- SUNY 26
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • University at Albany- SUNY 3.3
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University at Albany- SUNY B+
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • University at Albany- SUNY Difficult
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • University at Albany- SUNY Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • University at Albany- SUNY 22/31
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • University at Albany- SUNY 1120/1320
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University at Albany- SUNY Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • University at Albany- SUNY Feb 1, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University at Albany- SUNY 16:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • University at Albany- SUNY
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • English and Literature (14%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Biology (9%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • University at Albany- SUNY 64%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University at Albany- SUNY $55,800
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University at Albany- SUNY 70%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University at Albany- SUNY $21,065
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University at Albany- SUNY $217
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University at Albany- SUNY 44%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • University at Albany- SUNY 56%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University at Albany- SUNY High
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • University at Albany- SUNY No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • University at Albany- SUNY 49%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • University at Albany- SUNY 8%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • University at Albany- SUNY 16%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • University at Albany- SUNY 15%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • University at Albany- SUNY 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University at Albany- SUNY 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University at Albany- SUNY 3%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • University at Albany- SUNY 6%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University at Albany- SUNY 2%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University at Albany- SUNY 91%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University at Albany- SUNY 5%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • University at Albany- SUNY Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • University at Albany- SUNY No
  • Penn State Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • University at Albany- SUNY Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • University at Albany- SUNY No
  • Penn State Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • University at Albany- SUNY Yes
  • Penn State Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare University at Albany in Albany, 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 University at Albany- SUNY based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 17,560 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

University at Albany- SUNY vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University at Albany- SUNY 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 University at Albany than Penn State ($17,949 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 11.9% lower than at University at Albany ($14,474 vs. $16,423).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 90% more expensive for in-state tuition than University at Albany- SUNY (about $9,778 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $10,866.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 33.7% higher at Penn State than at University at Albany (about $10,534 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $31,256.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University at Albany than at Penn State Main Campus (96% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 1.1% larger than aid received by University at Albany students ($11,336 vs. $11,210).

University at Albany- SUNY vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University at Albany- SUNY 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 University at Albany- SUNY.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 110 points higher than at University at Albany- SUNY (1220).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 26 at University at Albany- SUNY).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University at Albany 1120/1320; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University at Albany 22/31; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University at Albany- SUNY - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: University at Albany- SUNY Feb 1, 2027.
  • University at Albany- SUNY has a higher acceptance rate (69.1%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.6% at University at Albany- SUNY vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

University at Albany- SUNY vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for University at Albany- SUNY 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 University at Albany's (64%).
  • Graduates from University at Albany earn a median of about $500 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,800 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University at Albany graduates have a $5,753 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($21,065 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, University at Albany- SUNY graduates have an estimated $60 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.