WVU vs. Penn State

Deciding between West Virginia University 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.

West Virginia University
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • WVU Morgantown, WV
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • WVU Small City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • WVU 23,643
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • WVU Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • WVU #566
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • WVU -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • WVU Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • WVU
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • WVU $10,104
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • WVU $28,608
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • WVU $14,582
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • WVU $15,169
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • WVU $12,363
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • WVU 94%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • WVU 18,729
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • WVU 16,669
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • WVU 89%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • WVU 24.8%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • WVU 1120
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • WVU 23
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • WVU 3.45
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • WVU B+
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • WVU Moderate
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • WVU
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • WVU 20/26
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • WVU 1010/1220
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • WVU Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • WVU
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • WVU 19:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • WVU
    • Business (12%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • WVU 57%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • WVU $50,600
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • WVU 59%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • WVU $24,001
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • WVU $248
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • WVU 47%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • WVU 53%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • WVU Low
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • WVU No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • WVU 81%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • WVU 1%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • WVU 5%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • WVU 4%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • WVU 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • WVU 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • WVU 3%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • WVU 6%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • WVU 0%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • WVU 41%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • WVU 58%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV 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 WVU based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 23,643 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • West Virginia University is located in Morgantown, WV (Small City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • West Virginia University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: West Virginia University 19:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

WVU vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WVU 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 West Virginia University than Penn State ($15,169 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 0.7% lower than at West Virginia University ($14,474 vs. $14,582).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 104.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than WVU (about $10,540 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $10,104.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 46.1% higher at Penn State than at West Virginia University (about $13,182 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $28,608.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at West Virginia University than at Penn State Main Campus (94% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by West Virginia University students is 9.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($12,363 vs. $11,336).

WVU vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WVU or Penn State? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Penn State and WVU.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 210 points higher than at WVU (1120).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (29 vs. 23 at WVU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: West Virginia University 1010/1220; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: West Virginia University 20/26; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WVU - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • WVU has a higher acceptance rate (89%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.8% at WVU vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

WVU vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WVU and Penn State? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than West Virginia University's (57%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $4,700 more per year than WVU graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, West Virginia University graduates have a $2,817 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($24,001 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, WVU graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($248 vs. $277).
  • More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WVU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 59%)

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.