USMMA vs. Penn State Brandywine

Comparable Facts

Compare United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY with Penn State Brandywine in Media, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Brandywine is larger than USMMA based on total student enrollment (1,236 students vs. 976 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• United States Merchant Marine Academy is located in Kings Point, NY (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Brandywine is in Media, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• United States Merchant Marine Academy is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Brandywine is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: United States Merchant Marine Academy 13:1; Penn State Brandywine 15:1.

USMMA vs. Penn State Brandywine Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USMMA or Penn State Brandywine? 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 United States Merchant Marine Academy than Penn State Brandywine ($4,101 vs. $22,710).
• Penn State Brandywine is 1,599.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than USMMA (about $14,313 more per year; $15,208.00 vs. $895.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2,737.1% higher at Penn State Brandywine than at United States Merchant Marine Academy (about $24,497 more per year; $25,392.00 vs. $895.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Brandywine than at United States Merchant Marine Academy (73% vs. 10%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Brandywine students is 79.9% larger than aid received by United States Merchant Marine Academy students ($9,113 vs. $5,067).

USMMA vs. Penn State Brandywine Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, USMMA or Penn State Brandywine? 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 Brandywine and USMMA.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at United States Merchant Marine Academy (1210) is 10 points higher than at Penn State Brandywine (1200).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: United States Merchant Marine Academy 1110/1300; Penn State Brandywine 1080/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: United States Merchant Marine Academy 22/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: USMMA - Required; Penn State Brandywine - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: USMMA Mar 1, 2027.
• Penn State Brandywine has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than USMMA (34.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 64.1% at USMMA vs. 16.8% at Penn State Brandywine.

USMMA vs. Penn State Brandywine Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for USMMA and Penn State Brandywine? 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).

• Graduates from United States Merchant Marine Academy earn a median of about $37,100 more per year than Penn State Brandywine graduates about ten years after starting college ($92,400 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, United States Merchant Marine Academy graduates have a $20,318 lower median loan debt than Penn State Brandywine graduates ($6,500 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, USMMA graduates have an estimated $210 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Brandywine graduates ($67 vs. $277).

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.