Annapolis vs. Penn State

Deciding between United States Naval Academy 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.

United States Naval Academy
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Annapolis Annapolis, Maryland
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Annapolis Large Suburban
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Annapolis 4,474
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Annapolis Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Annapolis
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Annapolis -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Annapolis Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Annapolis
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Annapolis $0
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Annapolis $0
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Annapolis $0
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Annapolis -
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Annapolis $0
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Annapolis 0%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Annapolis 15,149
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Annapolis 1,405
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Annapolis 9.3%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Annapolis 84.2%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Annapolis 1310
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Annapolis 28
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Annapolis 3.8
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Annapolis A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Annapolis Very High
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Annapolis Extreme
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Annapolis 25/31
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Annapolis 1210/1410
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Annapolis Required
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Annapolis Jan 31, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Annapolis 8:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Annapolis
    • Engineering (30%)
    • Social Sciences (30%)
    • Physical Sciences (17%)
    • History (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Annapolis -
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Annapolis N/A
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Annapolis -
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Annapolis N/A
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Annapolis N/A
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Annapolis 70%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Annapolis 30%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Annapolis -
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Annapolis No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Annapolis 0%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Annapolis 0%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Annapolis 0%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Annapolis 0%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Annapolis 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Annapolis 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Annapolis 0%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Annapolis 0%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Annapolis 0%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Annapolis 7%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Annapolis 91%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland 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 Annapolis based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 4,474 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • United States Naval Academy is located in Annapolis, Maryland (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • United States Naval Academy is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: United States Naval Academy 8:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Annapolis vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Annapolis or Penn State? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • In-state tuition differs between Penn State Main Campus and Annapolis ($20,644.00 vs. $0.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition differs between Penn State and United States Naval Academy ($41,790.00 vs. $0.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Main Campus than at United States Naval Academy (37% vs. 0%).

Annapolis vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Annapolis 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 Annapolis.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 20 points higher than at Annapolis (1310).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 28 at Annapolis).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: United States Naval Academy 1210/1410; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: United States Naval Academy 25/31; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Annapolis - Required; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Annapolis Jan 31, 2027.
  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Annapolis (9.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 84.2% at Annapolis vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Annapolis vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Annapolis 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).

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.