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JMU UD NC State Rutgers UConn Pitt UMass Purdue Clemson UofSC UVA UB| Virginia Tech | Penn State Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Virginia Tech | Penn State | ||
| Location | Blacksburg, VA | University Park, PA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 38,170 | 50,028 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #142 | #167 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | vt.edu | psu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Virginia Tech | Penn State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $12,104 | $18,368 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $31,754 | $35,946 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,680 | $12,744 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,301 | $26,747 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $7,649 | $10,066 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 57% | 44% |
Admission |
Virginia Tech | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 45,321 | 85,784 | ||
| Admitted | 25,825 | 47,360 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 57% | 55.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 27.7% | 19.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.97 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 27/32 | 26/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1240/1430 | 1210/1390 | ||
| 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 | Jan 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Virginia Tech | Penn State | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Virginia Tech | Penn State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 82% | 87% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $65,000 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 81% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,966 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $247 | $277 |
Diversity |
Virginia Tech | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 57% | 53% | ||
| % Women | 43% | 47% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 68% | 69% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 3% | ||
| % International | 6% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 2% |
Students |
Virginia Tech | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 64% | 51% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 32% | 40% | ||
Campus |
Virginia Tech | 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 Virginia Tech based on total student enrollment (50,028 students vs. 38,170 students)
Virginia Tech vs. Penn State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Virginia Tech or Penn State?
- Penn State Main Campus is 51.8% more expensive to attend than Virginia Tech for in-state tuition ($18,368.00 vs. $12,104.00)
- Out of state tuition is 13.2% higher at Penn State than Virginia Tech ($35,946.00 vs. $31,754.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Virginia Tech than Penn State ($19,301 vs. $26,747)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Tech are 0.5% lower than costs at Penn State Main Campus ($12,680 vs. $12,744)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Virginia Tech than Penn State Main Campus (57% vs. 44%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 31.6% larger than aid received Virginia Tech ($10,066 vs. $7,649)
Virginia Tech vs. Penn State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Virginia Tech or Penn State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State or Virginia Tech .
- The average SAT score at Virginia Tech (1210) is 8 points higher than at Penn State (1202)
- Virginia Tech has a higher acceptance rate (57%) than Penn State (55.2%)
Virginia Tech vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Virginia Tech 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 Virginia Tech.
- The graduation rate at Penn State is higher than Virginia Tech (87% vs. 82%)
- Graduates from Virginia Tech earn on average $9,700 more per year than Penn State graduates after ten years. ($65,000 vs. $55,300)
- Virginia Tech students graduate with a $2,852 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($23,966 vs. $26,818)
- Virginia Tech graduates are paying $30 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State graduates. ($247 vs. $277)
- More Virginia Tech graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/