TCNJ vs. Penn State

Deciding between The College of New Jersey 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.

The College of New Jersey
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • TCNJ Ewing, NJ
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • TCNJ Large Suburban
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • TCNJ 8,141
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • TCNJ Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • TCNJ #177
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • TCNJ -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • TCNJ Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • TCNJ
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • TCNJ $19,632
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • TCNJ $25,752
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • TCNJ $14,976
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • TCNJ $25,580
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • TCNJ $13,360
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • TCNJ 59%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • TCNJ 12,766
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • TCNJ 7,952
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • TCNJ 62.3%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • TCNJ 19.7%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • TCNJ 1240
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • TCNJ 28
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • TCNJ 3.29
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • TCNJ B+
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • TCNJ Difficult
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • TCNJ Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • TCNJ 26/31
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • TCNJ 1140/1340
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • TCNJ Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • TCNJ Feb 1, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • TCNJ 14:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • TCNJ
    • Education (22%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • TCNJ 87%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • TCNJ $62,100
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • TCNJ 85%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • TCNJ $23,250
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • TCNJ $240
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • TCNJ 43%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • TCNJ 57%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • TCNJ Medium
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • TCNJ No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • TCNJ 66%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • TCNJ 10%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • TCNJ 6%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • TCNJ 12%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • TCNJ 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • TCNJ 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • TCNJ 0%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • TCNJ 0%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • TCNJ 5%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • TCNJ 95%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • TCNJ 5%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare The College of New Jersey in Ewing, NJ 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 TCNJ based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 8,141 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • The College of New Jersey is located in Ewing, NJ (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • The College of New Jersey is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: The College of New Jersey 14:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

TCNJ vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, TCNJ 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 The College of New Jersey than Penn State ($25,580 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 3.4% lower than at The College of New Jersey ($14,474 vs. $14,976).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 5.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than TCNJ (about $1,012 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $19,632.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 62.3% higher at Penn State than at The College of New Jersey (about $16,038 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $25,752.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at The College of New Jersey than at Penn State Main Campus (59% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The College of New Jersey students is 17.9% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($13,360 vs. $11,336).

TCNJ vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, TCNJ 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 TCNJ.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 90 points higher than at TCNJ (1240).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 28 at TCNJ).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The College of New Jersey 1140/1340; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The College of New Jersey 26/31; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: TCNJ - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: TCNJ Feb 1, 2027.
  • TCNJ has a higher acceptance rate (62.3%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.7% at TCNJ vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

TCNJ vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for TCNJ 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).

  • The graduation rate at TCNJ is the same as at Penn State Main Campus (87% vs. 87%).
  • Graduates from The College of New Jersey earn a median of about $6,800 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, The College of New Jersey graduates have a $3,568 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($23,250 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, TCNJ graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($240 vs. $277).
  • More TCNJ 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.