Alabama vs. Penn State

Deciding between The University of Alabama 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 University of Alabama
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Alabama Small City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Alabama 40,846
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Alabama Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Alabama #416
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Alabama -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Alabama Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Alabama
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Alabama $12,180
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Alabama $34,172
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Alabama $15,016
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Alabama $22,559
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Alabama $17,503
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Alabama 80%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Alabama 56,795
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Alabama 43,531
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Alabama 76.6%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Alabama 18.5%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Alabama 1290
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Alabama 27
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Alabama 3.76
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Alabama A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Alabama Very High
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Alabama
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Alabama 24/31
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Alabama 1170/1400
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Alabama Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Alabama May 1, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Alabama 19:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Alabama
    • Business (29%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Alabama 66%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Alabama $49,900
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Alabama 59%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Alabama $23,750
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Alabama $245
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Alabama 43%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Alabama 57%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Alabama Low
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Alabama No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Alabama 78%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Alabama 1%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Alabama 11%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Alabama 4%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Alabama 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Alabama 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Alabama 3%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Alabama 2%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Alabama 0%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Alabama 40%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Alabama 59%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, AL 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 Alabama based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 40,846 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • The University of Alabama is located in Tuscaloosa, AL (Small City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • The University of Alabama 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 University of Alabama 19:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Alabama vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alabama 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 University of Alabama than Penn State ($22,559 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 3.6% lower than at The University of Alabama ($14,474 vs. $15,016).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 69.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Alabama (about $8,464 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $12,180.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 22.3% higher at Penn State than at The University of Alabama (about $7,618 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $34,172.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Alabama than at Penn State Main Campus (80% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Alabama students is 54.4% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($17,503 vs. $11,336).

Alabama vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Alabama or Penn State? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Penn State and Alabama.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 40 points higher than at Alabama (1290).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (29 vs. 27 at Alabama).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: The University of Alabama 1170/1400; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: The University of Alabama 24/31; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Alabama - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Alabama May 1, 2027.
  • Alabama has a higher acceptance rate (76.6%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.5% at Alabama vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Alabama vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Alabama and Penn State? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than The University of Alabama's (66%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $5,400 more per year than Alabama graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $49,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, The University of Alabama graduates have a $3,068 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($23,750 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Alabama graduates have an estimated $32 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($245 vs. $277).
  • More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Alabama students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 59%)

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.