UConn vs. Penn State

Deciding between University of Connecticut 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 Connecticut
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UConn Storrs, CT
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • UConn Town Fringe
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UConn 28,306
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • UConn Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UConn #106
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UConn -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • UConn Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UConn
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UConn $21,044
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UConn $43,712
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • UConn $14,380
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • UConn $25,310
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UConn $16,503
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UConn 81%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UConn 55,479
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • UConn 29,065
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UConn 52.4%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UConn 15.4%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UConn 1330
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • UConn 30
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • UConn 3.74
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UConn A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • UConn Very High
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UConn Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • UConn 28/33
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • UConn 1210/1440
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UConn Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UConn Jan 15, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UConn 17:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UConn
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UConn 83%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UConn $62,000
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UConn 78%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UConn $21,500
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UConn $222
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UConn 45%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • UConn 55%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UConn Medium
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • UConn No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • UConn 61%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • UConn 10%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • UConn 5%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UConn 9%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • UConn 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UConn 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UConn 3%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • UConn 5%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UConn 7%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UConn 53%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UConn 42%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT 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 UConn based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 28,306 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Connecticut is located in Storrs, CT (Town Fringe setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • University of Connecticut 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 Connecticut 17:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

UConn vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UConn 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 Connecticut than Penn State ($25,310 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Connecticut are 0.6% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($14,380 vs. $14,474).
  • University of Connecticut is 1.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $400 more per year; $21,044.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.6% higher at UConn than at Penn State Main Campus (about $1,922 more per year; $43,712.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Connecticut than at Penn State Main Campus (81% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Connecticut students is 45.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($16,503 vs. $11,336).

UConn vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UConn 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 UConn.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Connecticut (1330) is the same as at Penn State (1330).
  • Incoming UConn students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at Penn State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Connecticut 1210/1440; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Connecticut 28/33; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UConn - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UConn Jan 15, 2027.
  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than UConn (52.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.4% at UConn vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

UConn vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UConn 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 Connecticut's (83%).
  • Graduates from University of Connecticut earn a median of about $6,700 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,000 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Connecticut graduates have a $5,318 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, UConn graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($222 vs. $277).
  • More UConn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 69%)

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.