UNM vs. Penn State

Deciding between University of New Mexico Main Campus 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 New Mexico Main Campus
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UNM Albuquerque, NM
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • UNM Large City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UNM 23,124
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • UNM Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UNM #672
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UNM -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • UNM Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UNM
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UNM $10,140
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UNM $33,060
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • UNM $12,026
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • UNM $6,347
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UNM $13,140
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UNM 100%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UNM 12,269
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • UNM 11,678
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UNM 95.2%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UNM 31.2%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UNM 1030
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • UNM 22
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • UNM 3.42
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UNM B+
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • UNM Easy
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UNM
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • UNM 19/26
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • UNM 890/1170
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UNM Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UNM
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UNM 15:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UNM
    • Business (13%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UNM 44%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UNM $42,700
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UNM 47%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UNM $19,500
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UNM $201
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UNM 43%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • UNM 57%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UNM High
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • UNM No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • UNM 35%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • UNM 3%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • UNM 2%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UNM 47%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • UNM 6%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UNM 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UNM 3%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • UNM 1%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UNM 1%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UNM 83%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UNM 15%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of New Mexico Main Campus in Albuquerque, NM 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 UNM based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 23,124 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of New Mexico Main Campus is located in Albuquerque, NM (Large City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • University of New Mexico Main Campus 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 New Mexico Main Campus 15:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

UNM vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNM 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 New Mexico Main Campus than Penn State ($6,347 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of New Mexico Main Campus are 16.9% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($12,026 vs. $14,474).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 103.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNM (about $10,504 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $10,140.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 26.4% higher at Penn State than at University of New Mexico Main Campus (about $8,730 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $33,060.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of New Mexico Main Campus than at Penn State Main Campus (100% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of New Mexico Main Campus students is 15.9% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($13,140 vs. $11,336).

UNM vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UNM 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 UNM.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 300 points higher than at UNM (1030).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 22 at UNM).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of New Mexico Main Campus 890/1170; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of New Mexico Main Campus 19/26; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UNM - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • UNM has a higher acceptance rate (95.2%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.2% at UNM vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

UNM vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UNM 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 New Mexico Main Campus's (44%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $12,600 more per year than UNM graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $42,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of New Mexico Main Campus graduates have a $7,318 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($19,500 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, UNM graduates have an estimated $76 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($201 vs. $277).
  • More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNM students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 47%)

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.