University of North Carolina at Asheville vs. Penn State Brandywine

Should I go to University of North Carolina at Asheville or Penn State Brandywine? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if University of North Carolina at Asheville or Penn State Brandywine 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 North Carolina at Asheville vs. Penn State Brandywine comparison
University of North Carolina at Asheville Penn State Brandywine College 3 College 4
University of North Carolina at Asheville Penn State Brandywine
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Overview

University of North Carolina at Asheville Penn State Brandywine
Location Asheville, NC Media, PA
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 2,925 1,223
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #420 #766
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website unca.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of North Carolina at Asheville Penn State Brandywine
Tuition (In State) $4,122 $14,624
Tuition (Out of State) $21,470 $24,562
Room & Board $11,018 $13,820
Avg Net Price $14,175 $21,739
Avg Grant Aid $6,856 $9,380
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 69%

Admission

University of North Carolina at Asheville Penn State Brandywine
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,465 2,461
Admitted 5,131 2,346
Acceptance Rate 93.9% 95.3%
Enrolled % 12.3% 18.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.49 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 22/29 18/29
SAT Range 1170/1350 1110/1340
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 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

University of North Carolina at Asheville Penn State Brandywine
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Business (8%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Business (28%)
  • Work and Family Studies (28%)
  • Communication (23%)
  • Ethnic Studies (6%)
  • Education (5%)

Outcomes

University of North Carolina at Asheville Penn State Brandywine
Graduation Rate 61% 37%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,900 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 61% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,641 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $213 $277

Diversity

University of North Carolina at Asheville Penn State Brandywine
% Men 0% 0%
% Women 1% 0%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 80% 63%
% Black 4% 15%
% Hispanic 5% 5%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

University of North Carolina at Asheville Penn State Brandywine
% In-State 81% 74%
% Out-of-State 17% 24%

Campus

University of North Carolina at Asheville Penn State Brandywine
Campus Housing Yes No
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of North Carolina at Asheville is larger than than Penn State Brandywine based on total student enrollment (2,925 students vs. 1,223 students)

University of North Carolina at Asheville vs. Penn State Brandywine Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of North Carolina at Asheville or Penn State Brandywine?

  • Penn State Brandywine is 254.8% more expensive to attend than University of North Carolina at Asheville for in-state tuition ($14,624.00 vs. $4,122.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 14.4% higher at Penn State Brandywine than University of North Carolina at Asheville ($24,562.00 vs. $21,470.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of North Carolina at Asheville than Penn State Brandywine ($14,175 vs. $21,739)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Asheville are 25.4% lower than costs at Penn State Brandywine ($11,018 vs. $13,820)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of North Carolina at Asheville than Penn State Brandywine (91% vs. 69%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Brandywine students is 36.8% larger than aid received University of North Carolina at Asheville ($9,380 vs. $6,856)

University of North Carolina at Asheville vs. Penn State Brandywine Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of North Carolina at Asheville (1159) is 190 points higher than at Penn State Brandywine (969)
  • Incoming University of North Carolina at Asheville students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Penn State Brandywine (22)
  • Penn State Brandywine has a higher acceptance rate (95.3%) than University of North Carolina at Asheville (93.9%)

University of North Carolina at Asheville vs. Penn State Brandywine Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of North Carolina at Asheville or Penn State Brandywine? 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 Brandywine and University of North Carolina at Asheville.

  • The graduation rate at University of North Carolina at Asheville is higher than Penn State Brandywine (61% vs. 37%)
  • Graduates from Penn State Brandywine earn on average $17,400 more per year than University of North Carolina at Asheville graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $37,900)
  • University of North Carolina at Asheville students graduate with a $6,177 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Brandywine graduates. ($20,641 vs. $26,818)
  • University of North Carolina at Asheville graduates are paying $64 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Brandywine graduates. ($213 vs. $277)
  • More Penn State Brandywine graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of North Carolina at Asheville students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 61%)

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