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Florida State Virginia Tech USF Main Campus UD Rutgers UConn Pitt UMass FIU FAU Florida UB| University of Central Florida | Penn State Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
UCF | Penn State | ||
| Location | Orlando, FL | University Park, PA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 68,346 | 50,028 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #379 | #167 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | ucf.edu | psu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
UCF | Penn State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $4,478 | $18,368 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $19,810 | $35,946 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,498 | $12,744 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,108 | $26,747 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,986 | $10,066 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 93% | 44% |
Admission |
UCF | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 54,977 | 85,784 | ||
| Admitted | 22,560 | 47,360 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 41% | 55.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 33.3% | 19.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.64 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 25/29 | 26/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1200/1360 | 1210/1390 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Required to be considered for admission | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | May 1, 2025 |
Academics |
UCF | Penn State | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 29:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
UCF | Penn State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 63% | 87% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $48,900 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 59% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $18,270 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $188 | $277 |
Diversity |
UCF | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 45% | 53% | ||
| % Women | 55% | 47% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 53% | 69% | ||
| % Black | 11% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 24% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 3% | ||
| % International | 1% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 2% |
Students |
UCF | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 91% | 51% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 9% | 40% | ||
Campus |
UCF | 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
- University of Central Florida is larger than than Penn State based on total student enrollment (68,346 students vs. 50,028 students)
UCF vs. Penn State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, UCF or Penn State?
- Penn State Main Campus is 310.2% more expensive to attend than UCF for in-state tuition ($18,368.00 vs. $4,478.00)
- Out of state tuition is 81.5% higher at Penn State than University of Central Florida ($35,946.00 vs. $19,810.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Central Florida than Penn State ($13,108 vs. $26,747)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Central Florida are 10.8% lower than costs at Penn State Main Campus ($11,498 vs. $12,744)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Central Florida than Penn State Main Campus (93% vs. 44%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 0.8% larger than aid received University of Central Florida ($10,066 vs. $9,986)
UCF vs. Penn State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, UCF or Penn State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State or UCF .
- The average SAT score at Penn State Main Campus (1202) is 23 points higher than at UCF (1179)
- Incoming Penn State students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at UCF (26)
- Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (55.2%) than UCF (41%)
UCF vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, UCF 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 UCF.
- The graduation rate at Penn State is higher than University of Central Florida (87% vs. 63%)
- Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn on average $6,400 more per year than UCF graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $48,900)
- University of Central Florida students graduate with a $8,548 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($18,270 vs. $26,818)
- UCF graduates are paying $89 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State graduates. ($188 vs. $277)
- More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCF students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 59%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/