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Virginia Tech Rutgers UD UConn Pitt UMass UB NC State Michigan State NJIT Clemson Rowan University| The College of New Jersey | Penn State Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
TCNJ | Penn State | ||
| Location | Ewing, NJ | University Park, PA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 7,629 | 50,028 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #175 | #167 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | tcnj.edu | psu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
TCNJ | Penn State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $14,140 | $18,368 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $26,934 | $35,946 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,144 | $12,744 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,273 | $26,747 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,826 | $10,066 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 58% | 44% |
Admission |
TCNJ | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 10,302 | 85,784 | ||
| Admitted | 6,638 | 47,360 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 64.4% | 55.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 23.8% | 19.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.29 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 24/30 | 26/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1140/1350 | 1210/1390 | ||
| 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, 2025 |
Academics |
TCNJ | Penn State | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
TCNJ | Penn State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 87% | 87% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $62,100 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 85% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,250 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $240 | $277 |
Diversity |
TCNJ | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 42% | 53% | ||
| % Women | 58% | 47% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 66% | 69% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 0% | 3% | ||
| % International | 0% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 2% |
Students |
TCNJ | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 95% | 51% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 5% | 40% | ||
Campus |
TCNJ | Penn State | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Penn State Main Campus is larger than than TCNJ based on total student enrollment (50,028 students vs. 7,629 students)
TCNJ vs. Penn State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, TCNJ or Penn State?
- Penn State Main Campus is 29.9% more expensive to attend than TCNJ for in-state tuition ($18,368.00 vs. $14,140.00)
- Out of state tuition is 33.5% higher at Penn State than The College of New Jersey ($35,946.00 vs. $26,934.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The College of New Jersey than Penn State ($22,273 vs. $26,747)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 11% lower than costs at The College of New Jersey ($12,744 vs. $14,144)
- More students receive financial grant aid at The College of New Jersey than Penn State Main Campus (58% vs. 44%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by The College of New Jersey students is 17.5% larger than aid received Penn State Main Campus ($11,826 vs. $10,066)
TCNJ vs. Penn State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, TCNJ or Penn State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State or TCNJ .
- The average SAT score at The College of New Jersey (1227) is 25 points higher than at Penn State (1202)
- Incoming TCNJ students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Penn State (27)
- TCNJ has a higher acceptance rate (64.4%) than Penn State (55.2%)
TCNJ vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, TCNJ 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 TCNJ.
- 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 on average $6,800 more per year than Penn State graduates after ten years. ($62,100 vs. $55,300)
- The College of New Jersey students graduate with a $3,568 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($23,250 vs. $26,818)
- TCNJ graduates are paying $37 less per month on federal student loans 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/