Louisville vs. Penn State

Deciding between University of Louisville 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 Louisville
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Louisville Louisville, KY
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Louisville Large City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Louisville 23,065
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Louisville Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Louisville #408
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Louisville -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Louisville Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Louisville
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Louisville $13,136
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Louisville $29,482
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Louisville $12,576
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Louisville $19,785
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Louisville $14,677
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Louisville 98%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Louisville 15,668
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Louisville 12,442
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Louisville 79.4%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Louisville 25.1%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Louisville 1160
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Louisville 23
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Louisville 3.64
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Louisville A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Louisville Average
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Louisville
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Louisville 19/27
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Louisville 1040/1270
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Louisville Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Louisville Feb 15, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Louisville 14:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Louisville
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Louisville 51%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Louisville $45,200
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Louisville 58%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Louisville $19,656
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Louisville $203
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Louisville 44%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Louisville 56%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Louisville Low
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Louisville No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Louisville 76%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Louisville 3%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Louisville 11%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Louisville 4%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Louisville 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Louisville 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Louisville 4%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Louisville 1%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Louisville 0%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Louisville 71%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Louisville 28%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Louisville in Louisville, KY 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 Louisville based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 23,065 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Louisville is located in Louisville, KY (Large City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • University of Louisville 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 Louisville 14:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Louisville vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Louisville 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 Louisville than Penn State ($19,785 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Louisville are 13.1% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($12,576 vs. $14,474).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 57.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Louisville (about $7,508 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $13,136.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 41.7% higher at Penn State than at University of Louisville (about $12,308 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $29,482.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Louisville than at Penn State Main Campus (98% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Louisville students is 29.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($14,677 vs. $11,336).

Louisville vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Louisville 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 Louisville.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 170 points higher than at Louisville (1160).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 23 at Louisville).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Louisville 1040/1270; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Louisville 19/27; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Louisville - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Louisville Feb 15, 2027.
  • Louisville has a higher acceptance rate (79.4%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 25.1% at Louisville vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Louisville vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Louisville 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 Louisville's (51%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $10,100 more per year than Louisville graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $45,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Louisville graduates have a $7,162 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($19,656 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Louisville graduates have an estimated $74 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($203 vs. $277).
  • More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Louisville students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 58%)

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.