UNCSA vs. Penn State Beaver

Comparable Facts

Compare University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston Salem, NC with Penn State Beaver in Monaca, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of North Carolina School of the Arts is larger than Penn State Beaver based on total student enrollment (1,111 students vs. 482 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of North Carolina School of the Arts is located in Winston Salem, NC (Midsize City setting); Penn State Beaver is in Monaca, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• University of North Carolina School of the Arts is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Beaver is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of North Carolina School of the Arts 6:1; Penn State Beaver 12:1.

UNCSA vs. Penn State Beaver Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNCSA or Penn State Beaver? 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 North Carolina School of the Arts than Penn State Beaver ($13,140 vs. $18,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina School of the Arts are 6.6% lower than at Penn State Beaver ($13,517 vs. $14,474).
• Penn State Beaver is 52% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNCSA (about $4,931 more per year; $14,408.00 vs. $9,477.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.7% higher at UNCSA than at Penn State Beaver (about $3,077 more per year; $27,211.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Beaver than at University of North Carolina School of the Arts (88% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of North Carolina School of the Arts students is 42.4% larger than aid received by Penn State Beaver students ($12,876 vs. $9,045).

UNCSA vs. Penn State Beaver Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UNCSA or Penn State Beaver? 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 Beaver and UNCSA.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of North Carolina School of the Arts (1260) is 70 points higher than at Penn State Beaver (1190).
• Incoming UNCSA students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 25) as students at Penn State Beaver (25).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina School of the Arts 1140/1370; Penn State Beaver 1080/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina School of the Arts 22/29; Penn State Beaver 24/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UNCSA - Test optional; Penn State Beaver - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UNCSA Mar 15, 2027.
• Penn State Beaver has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than UNCSA (30%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 55.5% at UNCSA vs. 9.5% at Penn State Beaver.

UNCSA vs. Penn State Beaver Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UNCSA and Penn State Beaver? 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).

• University of North Carolina School of the Arts's six-year graduation rate (58%) is higher than Penn State Beaver's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Beaver earn a median of about $16,200 more per year than UNCSA graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Beaver graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than UNCSA graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Beaver graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UNCSA graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Penn State Beaver graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNCSA students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 56%)

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.