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Virginia Tech UD Rutgers UConn Pitt UMass UB NC State Michigan State Oklahoma State University-Main Campus OU Clemson| University of Arkansas | Penn State Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Arkansas | Penn State | ||
| Location | Fayetteville, AR | University Park, PA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 30,936 | 50,028 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #458 | #167 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | uark.edu | psu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Arkansas | Penn State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,666 | $18,368 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $25,420 | $35,946 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,368 | $12,744 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,208 | $26,747 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,474 | $10,066 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 60% | 44% |
Admission |
Arkansas | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 26,219 | 85,784 | ||
| Admitted | 20,695 | 47,360 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 78.9% | 55.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 34.3% | 19.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.74 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 21/28 | 26/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1030/1220 | 1210/1390 | ||
| 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 | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Arkansas | Penn State | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Arkansas | Penn State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 59% | 87% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $50,400 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 66% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,500 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $222 | $277 |
Diversity |
Arkansas | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 44% | 53% | ||
| % Women | 56% | 47% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 77% | 69% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 8% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 2% |
Students |
Arkansas | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 39% | 51% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 60% | 40% | ||
Campus |
Arkansas | Penn State | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Penn State Main Campus is larger than than Arkansas based on total student enrollment (50,028 students vs. 30,936 students)
Arkansas vs. Penn State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Arkansas or Penn State?
- Penn State Main Campus is 139.6% more expensive to attend than Arkansas for in-state tuition ($18,368.00 vs. $7,666.00)
- Out of state tuition is 41.4% higher at Penn State than University of Arkansas ($35,946.00 vs. $25,420.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Arkansas than Penn State ($16,208 vs. $26,747)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Arkansas are 3% lower than costs at Penn State Main Campus ($12,368 vs. $12,744)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Arkansas than Penn State Main Campus (60% vs. 44%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 18.8% larger than aid received University of Arkansas ($10,066 vs. $8,474)
Arkansas vs. Penn State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Arkansas or Penn State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State or Arkansas .
- The average SAT score at Penn State Main Campus (1202) is 48 points higher than at Arkansas (1154)
- Incoming Penn State students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Arkansas (26)
- Arkansas has a higher acceptance rate (78.9%) than Penn State (55.2%)
Arkansas vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Arkansas 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 Arkansas.
- The graduation rate at Penn State is higher than University of Arkansas (87% vs. 59%)
- Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn on average $4,900 more per year than Arkansas graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $50,400)
- University of Arkansas students graduate with a $5,318 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($21,500 vs. $26,818)
- Arkansas 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 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/