University of Nevada-Reno vs. Penn State

Deciding between University of Nevada Reno 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 Nevada Reno
Penn State Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • University of Nevada-Reno Reno, NV
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • University of Nevada-Reno Midsize City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • University of Nevada-Reno 23,024
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • University of Nevada-Reno Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University of Nevada-Reno #376
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University of Nevada-Reno -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • University of Nevada-Reno Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • University of Nevada-Reno
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University of Nevada-Reno $9,578
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University of Nevada-Reno $27,720
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • University of Nevada-Reno $14,496
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • University of Nevada-Reno $17,226
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University of Nevada-Reno $7,375
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University of Nevada-Reno 93%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • University of Nevada-Reno 17,679
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • University of Nevada-Reno 13,032
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University of Nevada-Reno 73.7%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • University of Nevada-Reno 26.5%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of Nevada-Reno 1180
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of Nevada-Reno 22
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • University of Nevada-Reno 3.4
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University of Nevada-Reno B+
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • University of Nevada-Reno Average
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • University of Nevada-Reno Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • University of Nevada-Reno 19/26
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • University of Nevada-Reno 1060/1290
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University of Nevada-Reno Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • University of Nevada-Reno Apr 7, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University of Nevada-Reno 17:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • University of Nevada-Reno
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Education (7%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • University of Nevada-Reno 51%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University of Nevada-Reno $53,400
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University of Nevada-Reno 64%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University of Nevada-Reno $18,801
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University of Nevada-Reno $194
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University of Nevada-Reno 44%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • University of Nevada-Reno 56%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University of Nevada-Reno High
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • University of Nevada-Reno No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • University of Nevada-Reno 60%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • University of Nevada-Reno 7%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • University of Nevada-Reno 4%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • University of Nevada-Reno 19%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • University of Nevada-Reno 1%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University of Nevada-Reno 1%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University of Nevada-Reno 6%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • University of Nevada-Reno 1%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University of Nevada-Reno 1%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University of Nevada-Reno 76%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University of Nevada-Reno 23%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • University of Nevada-Reno Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • University of Nevada-Reno No
  • Penn State Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • University of Nevada-Reno Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • University of Nevada-Reno No
  • Penn State Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • University of Nevada-Reno Yes
  • Penn State Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Nevada Reno in Reno, NV 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 University of Nevada-Reno based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 23,024 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Nevada Reno is located in Reno, NV (Midsize City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • University of Nevada Reno 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 Nevada Reno 17:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

University of Nevada-Reno vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Nevada-Reno 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 Nevada Reno than Penn State ($17,226 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 0.2% lower than at University of Nevada Reno ($14,474 vs. $14,496).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 115.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of Nevada-Reno (about $11,066 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $9,578.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 50.8% higher at Penn State than at University of Nevada Reno (about $14,070 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $27,720.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Nevada Reno than at Penn State Main Campus (93% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 53.7% larger than aid received by University of Nevada Reno students ($11,336 vs. $7,375).

University of Nevada-Reno vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of Nevada-Reno 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 University of Nevada-Reno.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 150 points higher than at University of Nevada-Reno (1180).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 22 at University of Nevada-Reno).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Nevada Reno 1060/1290; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Nevada Reno 19/26; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of Nevada-Reno - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: University of Nevada-Reno Apr 7, 2027.
  • University of Nevada-Reno has a higher acceptance rate (73.7%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 26.5% at University of Nevada-Reno vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

University of Nevada-Reno vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for University of Nevada-Reno 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 Nevada Reno's (51%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $1,900 more per year than University of Nevada-Reno graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $53,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Nevada Reno graduates have a $8,017 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($18,801 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, University of Nevada-Reno graduates have an estimated $83 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($194 vs. $277).
  • More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Nevada-Reno students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 64%)

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.