Trinity College vs. Penn State

Deciding between Trinity College 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.

Trinity College
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Trinity College Hartford, CT
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Trinity College Midsize City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Trinity College 2,238
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Trinity College Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Trinity College #47
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Trinity College -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Trinity College Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Trinity College
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Trinity College $70,770
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Trinity College $70,770
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Trinity College $18,890
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Trinity College $36,071
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Trinity College $51,754
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Trinity College 73%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Trinity College 7,460
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Trinity College 2,182
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Trinity College 29.2%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Trinity College 24.8%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Trinity College 1380
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Trinity College 32
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Trinity College 3.8
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Trinity College A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Trinity College Exceptional
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Trinity College High
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Trinity College 30/34
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Trinity College 1298/1470
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Trinity College Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Trinity College Jan 17, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Trinity College 9:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Trinity College
    • Social Sciences (31%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
    • History (7%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Trinity College 86%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Trinity College $71,500
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Trinity College 81%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Trinity College $21,000
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Trinity College $217
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Trinity College 47%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Trinity College 53%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Trinity College Medium
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Trinity College No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Trinity College 65%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Trinity College 4%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Trinity College 6%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Trinity College 7%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Trinity College 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Trinity College 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Trinity College 3%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Trinity College 10%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Trinity College 5%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Trinity College 15%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Trinity College 73%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Trinity College in Hartford, CT 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 Trinity College based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 2,238 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Trinity College is located in Hartford, CT (Midsize City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Trinity College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Trinity College 9:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Trinity College vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Trinity College 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 Penn State Main Campus than Trinity College ($27,889 vs. $36,071).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 23.4% lower than at Trinity College ($14,474 vs. $18,890).
  • Trinity College is 242.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $50,126 more per year; $70,770.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 69.3% higher at Trinity College than at Penn State Main Campus (about $28,980 more per year; $70,770.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Trinity College than at Penn State Main Campus (73% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Trinity College students is 356.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($51,754 vs. $11,336).

Trinity College vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Trinity College 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 Trinity College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Trinity College (1380) is 50 points higher than at Penn State (1330).
  • Incoming Trinity College students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 29 at Penn State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Trinity College 1298/1470; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Trinity College 30/34; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Trinity College - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Trinity College Jan 17, 2027.
  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Trinity College (29.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.8% at Trinity College vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Trinity College vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Trinity College 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).

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Trinity College's (86%).
  • Graduates from Trinity College earn a median of about $16,200 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($71,500 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Trinity College graduates have a $5,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($21,000 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Trinity College graduates have an estimated $60 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($217 vs. $277).
  • More Trinity College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (81% 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.