Michigan vs. Penn State

Should I go to University of Michigan or Penn State Main Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Michigan 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 Michigan vs. Penn State Main Campus comparison
University of Michigan Penn State Main Campus College 3 College 4
University of Michigan Penn State Main Campus
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Overview

 Michigan Penn State
Location Ann Arbor, MI University Park, PA
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 51,225 50,028
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #50 #167
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website umich.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Michigan Penn State
Tuition (In State) $16,404 $18,368
Tuition (Out of State) $55,002 $35,946
Room & Board $13,171 $12,744
Avg Net Price $19,318 $26,747
Avg Grant Aid $15,121 $10,066
% Receiving Grant Aid 67% 44%

Admission

 Michigan Penn State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 84,289 85,784
Admitted 14,914 47,360
Acceptance Rate 17.7% 55.2%
Enrolled % 47.3% 19.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.88 -
Typical High School Grades A- -
Admissions Standards Exceptional Very High
Applicant Competition Very High Low
ACT Range 31/34 26/31
SAT Range 1350/1530 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

 Michigan Penn State
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • Engineering (15%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

 Michigan Penn State
Graduation Rate 90% 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $74,400 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,103 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $207 $277

Diversity

 Michigan Penn State
% Men 48% 53%
% Women 52% 47%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 62% 69%
% Black 4% 4%
% Hispanic 5% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 7% 11%
% Unknown Race 6% 2%

Students

 Michigan Penn State
% In-State 51% 51%
% Out-of-State 44% 40%

Campus

 Michigan Penn State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Michigan is larger than than Penn State based on total student enrollment (51,225 students vs. 50,028 students)

Michigan vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan or Penn State?

  • Penn State Main Campus is 12% more expensive to attend than Michigan for in-state tuition ($18,368.00 vs. $16,404.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 53% higher at Michigan than Penn State Main Campus ($55,002.00 vs. $35,946.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Michigan than Penn State ($19,318 vs. $26,747)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 3.4% lower than costs at University of Michigan ($12,744 vs. $13,171)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Michigan than Penn State Main Campus (67% vs. 44%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Michigan students is 50.2% larger than aid received Penn State Main Campus ($15,121 vs. $10,066)

Michigan vs. Penn State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Michigan or Penn State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State or Michigan .

  • The average SAT score at University of Michigan (1384) is 182 points higher than at Penn State (1202)
  • Incoming Michigan students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at Penn State (27)
  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (55.2%) than Michigan (17.7%)

Michigan vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Michigan 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 Michigan.

  • The graduation rate at Michigan is higher than Penn State Main Campus (90% vs. 87%)
  • Graduates from University of Michigan earn on average $19,100 more per year than Penn State graduates after ten years. ($74,400 vs. $55,300)
  • University of Michigan students graduate with a $6,715 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($20,103 vs. $26,818)
  • Michigan graduates are paying $70 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State graduates. ($207 vs. $277)
  • More Michigan 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/