Wesleyan University vs. Penn State

Should I go to Wesleyan University or Penn State Main Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Wesleyan University or Penn State 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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Wesleyan University vs. Penn State Main Campus comparison
Wesleyan University Penn State Main Campus College 3 College 4
Wesleyan University Penn State Main Campus
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Overview

 Wesleyan University Penn State
Location Middletown, CT University Park, PA
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 3,271 50,399
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #30 #171
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wesleyan.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Wesleyan University Penn State
Tuition (In State) $66,716 $19,672
Tuition (Out of State) $66,716 $39,626
Room & Board $19,034 $13,030
Avg Net Price $20,463 $27,450
Avg Grant Aid $64,709 $11,577
% Receiving Grant Aid 38% 36%

Admission

 Wesleyan University Penn State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 14,500 85,956
Admitted 2,479 46,605
Acceptance Rate 17.1% 54.2%
Enrolled % 31.5% 19.4%
Avg High School GPA - -
Typical High School Grades - -
Admissions Standards Elite Very High
Applicant Competition Very High Low
ACT Range 33/35 27/32
SAT Range 1450/1540 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 Jan 1, 2026

Academics

 Wesleyan University Penn State
Student to Faculty Ratio 7:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (24%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • Ethnic Studies (12%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

 Wesleyan University Penn State
Graduation Rate 92% 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $58,000 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 89% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,500 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $180 $277

Diversity

 Wesleyan University Penn State
% Men 2% 8%
% Women 4% 8%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 53% 69%
% Black 7% 4%
% Hispanic 11% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 3%
% International 9% 11%
% Unknown Race 5% 2%

Students

 Wesleyan University Penn State
% In-State 10% 51%
% Out-of-State 75% 40%

Campus

 Wesleyan University Penn State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes 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 Wesleyan University based on total student enrollment (50,399 students vs. 3,271 students)

Wesleyan University vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wesleyan University or Penn State?

  • Wesleyan University is 239.1% more expensive to attend than Penn State for in-state tuition ($66,716.00 vs. $19,672.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 68.4% higher at Wesleyan University than Penn State Main Campus ($66,716.00 vs. $39,626.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wesleyan University than Penn State ($20,463 vs. $27,450)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 46.1% lower than costs at Wesleyan University ($13,030 vs. $19,034)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Wesleyan University than Penn State Main Campus (38% vs. 36%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wesleyan University students is 458.9% larger than aid received Penn State Main Campus ($64,709 vs. $11,577)

Wesleyan University vs. Penn State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (54.2%) than Wesleyan University (17.1%)

Wesleyan University vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Wesleyan University 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 Wesleyan University.

  • The graduation rate at Wesleyan University is higher than Penn State Main Campus (92% vs. 87%)
  • Graduates from Wesleyan University earn on average $2,700 more per year than Penn State graduates after ten years. ($58,000 vs. $55,300)
  • Wesleyan University students graduate with a $9,318 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($17,500 vs. $26,818)
  • Wesleyan University graduates are paying $97 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State graduates. ($180 vs. $277)
  • More Wesleyan University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 69%)

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