Widener University vs. Penn State

Deciding between Widener 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.

Widener University
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Widener University Chester, PA
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Widener University Large Suburban
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Widener University 5,713
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Widener University Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Widener University #333
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Widener University -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Widener University Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Widener University
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Widener University $55,730
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Widener University $55,730
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Widener University $16,530
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Widener University $26,778
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Widener University $43,706
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Widener University 100%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Widener University 9,350
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Widener University 6,632
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Widener University 70.9%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Widener University 13.8%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Widener University 1190
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Widener University
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Widener University 3.46
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Widener University B+
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Widener University Challenging
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Widener University Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Widener University
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Widener University 1080/1290
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Widener University Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Widener University
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Widener University 11:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Widener University
    • Business (28%)
    • Health Professions (23%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Education (5%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Widener University 54%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Widener University $59,500
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Widener University 68%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Widener University $27,000
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Widener University $279
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Widener University 35%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Widener University 65%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Widener University Medium
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Widener University No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Widener University 70%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Widener University 4%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Widener University 13%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Widener University 5%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Widener University 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Widener University 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Widener University 2%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Widener University 4%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Widener University 2%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Widener University 70%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Widener University 29%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Widener University in Chester, PA 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 Widener University based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 5,713 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Widener University is located in Chester, PA (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Widener University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Widener University 11:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Widener University vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Widener University 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 Widener University than Penn State ($26,778 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 12.4% lower than at Widener University ($14,474 vs. $16,530).
  • Widener University is 170% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $35,086 more per year; $55,730.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 33.4% higher at Widener University than at Penn State Main Campus (about $13,940 more per year; $55,730.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Widener University than at Penn State Main Campus (100% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Widener University students is 285.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($43,706 vs. $11,336).

Widener University vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Widener University 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 Widener University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 140 points higher than at Widener University (1190).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Widener University 1080/1290; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPenn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Widener University - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Widener University has a higher acceptance rate (70.9%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.8% at Widener University vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Widener University vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Widener University 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 Widener University's (54%).
  • Graduates from Widener University earn a median of about $4,200 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,500 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Main Campus graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Widener University graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Penn State graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Widener University graduates ($277 vs. $279).
  • More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Widener University students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 68%)

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.