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Virginia Tech ASU UD Rutgers UConn Pitt UMass UNC Charlotte UNC Chapel Hill UB NC State Michigan State| University of North Carolina at Wilmington | Penn State Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
UNCW | Penn State | ||
| Location | Wilmington, NC | University Park, PA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 17,987 | 50,399 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #390 | #171 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | uncw.edu | psu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
UNCW | Penn State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $4,443 | $19,672 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $20,111 | $39,626 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,605 | $13,030 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $18,606 | $27,450 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $6,516 | $11,577 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 54% | 36% |
Admission |
UNCW | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,370 | 85,956 | ||
| Admitted | 12,856 | 46,605 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74% | 54.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 19.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.56 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 24/28 | 27/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1220/1360 | 1220/1400 | ||
| 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, 2026 |
Academics |
UNCW | Penn State | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
UNCW | Penn State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 67% | 87% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,700 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 64% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,500 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $211 | $277 |
Diversity |
UNCW | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 5% | 8% | ||
| % Women | 14% | 8% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 78% | 69% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 1% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 2% |
Students |
UNCW | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 77% | 51% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 22% | 40% | ||
Campus |
UNCW | Penn State | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Penn State Main Campus is larger than than UNCW based on total student enrollment (50,399 students vs. 17,987 students)
UNCW vs. Penn State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, UNCW or Penn State?
- Penn State Main Campus is 342.8% more expensive to attend than UNCW for in-state tuition ($19,672.00 vs. $4,443.00)
- Out of state tuition is 97% higher at Penn State than University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($39,626.00 vs. $20,111.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of North Carolina at Wilmington than Penn State ($18,606 vs. $27,450)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Wilmington are 3.4% lower than costs at Penn State Main Campus ($12,605 vs. $13,030)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of North Carolina at Wilmington than Penn State Main Campus (54% vs. 36%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 77.7% larger than aid received University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($11,577 vs. $6,516)
UNCW vs. Penn State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, UNCW or Penn State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State or UNCW .
- The average SAT score at Penn State Main Campus (1202) is 40 points higher than at UNCW (1162)
- Incoming Penn State students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at UNCW (25)
- UNCW has a higher acceptance rate (74%) than Penn State (54.2%)
UNCW vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, UNCW 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 UNCW.
- The graduation rate at Penn State is higher than University of North Carolina at Wilmington (87% vs. 67%)
- Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn on average $10,600 more per year than UNCW graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $44,700)
- University of North Carolina at Wilmington students graduate with a $6,318 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($20,500 vs. $26,818)
- UNCW graduates are paying $66 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State graduates. ($211 vs. $277)
- More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNCW 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/