TU vs. Penn State Beaver

Comparable Facts

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

Towson University is larger than Penn State Beaver based on total student enrollment (19,401 students vs. 482 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Towson University is located in Towson, MD (Small City setting); Penn State Beaver is in Monaca, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Towson University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Beaver is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Towson University 14:1; Penn State Beaver 12:1.

TU vs. Penn State Beaver Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, TU or Penn State Beaver? 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 Beaver ($16,653 vs. $18,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Beaver are 11% lower than at Towson University ($14,474 vs. $16,260).
• Penn State Beaver is 22.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than TU (about $2,680 more per year; $14,408.00 vs. $11,728.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 23.6% higher at TU than at Penn State Beaver (about $5,686 more per year; $29,820.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Beaver than at Towson University (88% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Towson University students is 30.7% larger than aid received by Penn State Beaver students ($11,820 vs. $9,045).

TU vs. Penn State Beaver Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Beaver (1190) is 100 points higher than at TU (1090).
• Incoming Penn State Beaver 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 Beaver 1080/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Towson University 19/27; Penn State Beaver 24/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: TU - Test optional; Penn State Beaver - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: TU Apr 1, 2027.
• Penn State Beaver has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than TU (82%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at TU vs. 9.5% at Penn State Beaver.

TU vs. Penn State Beaver Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for TU and Penn State Beaver? 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 Beaver's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Beaver 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 Beaver graduates ($17,750 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, TU graduates have an estimated $94 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Beaver graduates ($183 vs. $277).
• More TU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Beaver 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.