Arkansas vs. Penn State

Deciding between University of Arkansas 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.

University of Arkansas
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Arkansas Fayetteville, AR
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Arkansas Small City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Arkansas 33,610
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Arkansas Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Arkansas #450
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Arkansas -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Arkansas Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Arkansas
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Arkansas $10,104
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Arkansas $29,966
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Arkansas $14,244
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Arkansas $18,408
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Arkansas $8,804
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Arkansas 55%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Arkansas 30,555
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Arkansas 22,703
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Arkansas 74.3%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Arkansas 29.2%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Arkansas 1130
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Arkansas 24
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Arkansas 3.74
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Arkansas A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Arkansas Average
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Arkansas Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Arkansas 21/28
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Arkansas 1030/1220
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Arkansas Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Arkansas Aug 1, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Arkansas 20:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Arkansas
    • Business (24%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Arkansas 59%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Arkansas $50,400
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Arkansas 66%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Arkansas $21,500
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Arkansas $222
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Arkansas 45%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Arkansas 55%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Arkansas Low
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Arkansas No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Arkansas 77%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Arkansas 2%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Arkansas 5%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Arkansas 8%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Arkansas 1%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Arkansas 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Arkansas 3%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Arkansas 3%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Arkansas 0%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Arkansas 43%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Arkansas 56%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, AR 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 Arkansas based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 33,610 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Arkansas is located in Fayetteville, AR (Small City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • University of Arkansas is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Arkansas 20:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Arkansas vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Arkansas 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 University of Arkansas than Penn State ($18,408 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Arkansas are 1.6% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($14,244 vs. $14,474).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 104.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Arkansas (about $10,540 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $10,104.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 39.5% higher at Penn State than at University of Arkansas (about $11,824 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $29,966.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Arkansas than at Penn State Main Campus (55% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 28.8% larger than aid received by University of Arkansas students ($11,336 vs. $8,804).

Arkansas vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Arkansas 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 Arkansas.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 200 points higher than at Arkansas (1130).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 24 at Arkansas).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Arkansas 1030/1220; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Arkansas 21/28; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Arkansas - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Arkansas Aug 1, 2027.
  • Arkansas has a higher acceptance rate (74.3%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 29.2% at Arkansas vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Arkansas vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Arkansas 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 University of Arkansas's (59%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $4,900 more per year than Arkansas graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $50,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Arkansas graduates have a $5,318 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Arkansas graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($222 vs. $277).
  • More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Arkansas students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 66%)

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.