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Virginia Tech UD Rutgers UConn Pitt UMass UB NC State Michigan State UA Huntsville Clemson Syracuse| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Penn State Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
University of Alabama at Birmingham | Penn State | ||
| Location | Birmingham, AL | University Park, PA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 21,160 | 50,399 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #430 | #171 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | uab.edu | psu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
University of Alabama at Birmingham | Penn State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,832 | $19,672 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,864 | $39,626 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,590 | $13,030 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $17,413 | $27,450 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,333 | $11,577 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 95% | 36% |
Admission |
University of Alabama at Birmingham | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 10,919 | 85,956 | ||
| Admitted | 9,655 | 46,605 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 88.4% | 54.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21.7% | 19.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.82 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 22/30 | 27/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1130/1400 | 1220/1400 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jun 1, 2026 |
Academics |
University of Alabama at Birmingham | Penn State | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
University of Alabama at Birmingham | Penn State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 45% | 87% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $46,400 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 52% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,500 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $222 | $277 |
Diversity |
University of Alabama at Birmingham | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 15% | 8% | ||
| % Women | 26% | 8% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 59% | 69% | ||
| % Black | 25% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 2% |
Students |
University of Alabama at Birmingham | Penn State | ||
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| % In-State | 82% | 51% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 16% | 40% | ||
Campus |
University of Alabama at Birmingham | Penn State | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Penn State Main Campus is larger than than University of Alabama at Birmingham based on total student enrollment (50,399 students vs. 21,160 students)
University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. Penn State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, University of Alabama at Birmingham or Penn State?
- Penn State Main Campus is 122.7% more expensive to attend than University of Alabama at Birmingham for in-state tuition ($19,672.00 vs. $8,832.00)
- Out of state tuition is 81.2% higher at Penn State than University of Alabama at Birmingham ($39,626.00 vs. $21,864.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Alabama at Birmingham than Penn State ($17,413 vs. $27,450)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 4.3% lower than costs at University of Alabama at Birmingham ($13,030 vs. $13,590)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Alabama at Birmingham than Penn State Main Campus (95% vs. 36%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 2.2% larger than aid received University of Alabama at Birmingham ($11,577 vs. $11,333)
University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. Penn State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, University of Alabama at Birmingham or Penn State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State or University of Alabama at Birmingham .
- The average SAT score at Penn State Main Campus (1202) is 55 points higher than at University of Alabama at Birmingham (1147)
- Incoming Penn State students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at University of Alabama at Birmingham (25)
- University of Alabama at Birmingham has a higher acceptance rate (88.4%) than Penn State (54.2%)
University of Alabama at Birmingham vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, University of Alabama at Birmingham or Penn State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Penn State and University of Alabama at Birmingham.
- The graduation rate at Penn State is higher than University of Alabama at Birmingham (87% vs. 45%)
- Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn on average $8,900 more per year than University of Alabama at Birmingham graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $46,400)
- University of Alabama at Birmingham students graduate with a $5,318 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($21,500 vs. $26,818)
- University of Alabama at Birmingham graduates are paying $55 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State graduates. ($222 vs. $277)
- More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Alabama at Birmingham students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 52%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/