University of Dayton vs. Penn State

Should I go to University of Dayton or Penn State Main Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if University of Dayton or Penn State is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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University of Dayton vs. Penn State Main Campus comparison
University of Dayton Penn State Main Campus College 3 College 4
University of Dayton Penn State Main Campus
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Overview

 University of Dayton Penn State
Location Dayton, OH University Park, PA
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 11,674 50,028
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #230 #167
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website udayton.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 University of Dayton Penn State
Tuition (In State) $46,170 $18,368
Tuition (Out of State) $46,170 $35,946
Room & Board $15,390 $12,744
Avg Net Price $30,590 $26,747
Avg Grant Aid $31,920 $10,066
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 44%

Admission

 University of Dayton Penn State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 18,864 85,784
Admitted 13,969 47,360
Acceptance Rate 74.1% 55.2%
Enrolled % 14.3% 19.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.77 -
Typical High School Grades A- -
Admissions Standards Difficult Very High
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 24/30 26/31
SAT Range 1158/1363 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 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

 University of Dayton Penn State
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (28%)
  • Engineering (13%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Health Professions (5%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

 University of Dayton Penn State
Graduation Rate 74% 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $57,300 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 84% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $268 $277

Diversity

 University of Dayton Penn State
% Men 52% 53%
% Women 48% 47%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 78% 69%
% Black 3% 4%
% Hispanic 3% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 11% 11%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

 University of Dayton Penn State
% In-State 54% 51%
% Out-of-State 45% 40%

Campus

 University of Dayton Penn State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes 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 University of Dayton based on total student enrollment (50,028 students vs. 11,674 students)

University of Dayton vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Dayton or Penn State?

  • University of Dayton is 151.4% more expensive to attend than Penn State for in-state tuition ($46,170.00 vs. $18,368.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 28.4% higher at University of Dayton than Penn State Main Campus ($46,170.00 vs. $35,946.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Main Campus than University of Dayton ($26,747 vs. $30,590)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 20.8% lower than costs at University of Dayton ($12,744 vs. $15,390)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Dayton than Penn State Main Campus (96% vs. 44%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Dayton students is 217.1% larger than aid received Penn State Main Campus ($31,920 vs. $10,066)

University of Dayton vs. Penn State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of Dayton 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 Dayton .

  • The average SAT score at Penn State Main Campus (1202) is 15 points higher than at University of Dayton (1187)
  • Incoming University of Dayton students have at the same average ACT score (27) as students at Penn State (27)
  • University of Dayton has a higher acceptance rate (74.1%) than Penn State (55.2%)

University of Dayton vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of Dayton 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 Dayton.

  • The graduation rate at Penn State is higher than University of Dayton (87% vs. 74%)
  • Graduates from University of Dayton earn on average $2,000 more per year than Penn State graduates after ten years. ($57,300 vs. $55,300)
  • University of Dayton students graduate with a $818 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($26,000 vs. $26,818)
  • University of Dayton graduates are paying $9 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State graduates. ($268 vs. $277)
  • More University of Dayton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/