TU vs. Penn State Abington

Comparable Facts

Compare Towson University in Towson, MD with Penn State Abington in Abington, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Towson University is larger than Penn State Abington based on total student enrollment (19,401 students vs. 2,885 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Towson University is located in Towson, MD (Small City setting); Penn State Abington is in Abington, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Towson University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Abington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Towson University 14:1; Penn State Abington 14:1.

TU vs. Penn State Abington Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, TU or Penn State Abington? 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 Towson University than Penn State Abington ($16,653 vs. $19,232).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Abington are 11% lower than at Towson University ($14,474 vs. $16,260).
• Penn State Abington is 30.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than TU (about $3,540 more per year; $15,268.00 vs. $11,728.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16.2% higher at TU than at Penn State Abington (about $4,156 more per year; $29,820.00 vs. $25,664.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Abington than at Towson University (80% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Towson University students is 19.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Abington students ($11,820 vs. $9,883).

TU vs. Penn State Abington Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, TU or Penn State Abington? 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 Abington and TU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Abington (1170) is 80 points higher than at TU (1090).
• Incoming Penn State Abington students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 23 at TU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Towson University 950/1235; Penn State Abington 1070/1265.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Towson University 19/27; Penn State Abington 23/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: TU - Test optional; Penn State Abington - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: TU Apr 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman TU students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Penn State Abington (3.42).
• Penn State Abington has a higher acceptance rate (96.8%) than TU (82%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at TU vs. 11.2% at Penn State Abington.

TU vs. Penn State Abington Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for TU and Penn State Abington? 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).

• Towson University's six-year graduation rate (64%) is higher than Penn State Abington's (44%).
• Graduates from Penn State Abington earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than TU graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $53,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Towson University graduates have a $9,068 lower median loan debt than Penn State Abington graduates ($17,750 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, TU graduates have an estimated $94 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Abington graduates ($183 vs. $277).
• More TU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Abington students, three years after graduation. (69% 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.