Washington College vs. Penn State

Deciding between Washington College 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.

Washington College
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Washington College Chestertown, MD
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Washington College Distant Town
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Washington College 923
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Washington College Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Washington College
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Washington College -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Washington College Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Washington College
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Washington College $55,326
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Washington College $55,326
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Washington College $18,250
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Washington College $29,830
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Washington College $43,485
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Washington College 100%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Washington College 4,048
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Washington College 2,303
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Washington College 56.9%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Washington College 11.5%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Washington College 1270
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Washington College 29
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Washington College 3.71
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Washington College A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Washington College Very High
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Washington College Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Washington College 27/31
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Washington College 1140/1390
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Washington College Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Washington College Feb 15, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Washington College 8:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Washington College
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Business (18%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Washington College 75%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Washington College $50,800
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Washington College 85%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Washington College $24,250
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Washington College $250
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Washington College 44%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Washington College 56%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Washington College Low
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Washington College No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Washington College 73%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Washington College 2%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Washington College 5%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Washington College 3%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Washington College 1%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Washington College 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Washington College 2%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Washington College 10%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Washington College 4%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Washington College 45%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Washington College 51%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Washington College in Chestertown, MD 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 Washington College based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 923 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Washington College is located in Chestertown, MD (Distant Town setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Washington College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Washington College 8:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Washington College vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Washington College 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 Penn State Main Campus than Washington College ($27,889 vs. $29,830).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 20.7% lower than at Washington College ($14,474 vs. $18,250).
  • Washington College is 168% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $34,682 more per year; $55,326.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 32.4% higher at Washington College than at Penn State Main Campus (about $13,536 more per year; $55,326.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Washington College than at Penn State Main Campus (100% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Washington College students is 283.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($43,485 vs. $11,336).

Washington College vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Washington College 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 Washington College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 60 points higher than at Washington College (1270).
  • Incoming Washington College students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 29) as students at Penn State (29).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Washington College 1140/1390; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Washington College 27/31; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Washington College - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Washington College Feb 15, 2027.
  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Washington College (56.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.5% at Washington College vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Washington College vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Washington College 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 Washington College's (75%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $4,500 more per year than Washington College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $50,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Washington College graduates have a $2,568 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($24,250 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Washington College graduates have an estimated $27 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($250 vs. $277).
  • More Washington College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 69%)

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.