Penn State Rankings and Evaluation
National Universities
#112 in National Universities
Pennsylvania Colleges
#14 in Pennsylvania Colleges
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is ranked 112nd in National Universities and 14th in Pennsylvania Colleges.
The following statements evaluate Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus by comparing key academic facts to Public, 4-Years Colleges in Pennsylvania.
- Its tuition & fees of $41,790 is very expensive compared to similar schools.
- The acceptance rate (61%) is lower (difficult to get in).
- The SAT & ACT scores (1,330 SAT, 30 ACT) is extremely competitive scores.
- It has very large number of students of 50,737.
- The financial aid amount ($14,013) is average.
- It offers very diverse area of study (445 programs).
Undergraduate Tuition & Fees
The 2025 undergraduate tuition & fees of Penn State are $41,790 (out-of-state rate) and it is very expensive compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus $41,790
All U.S. Colleges $17,692
Public, 4-Years Colleges $18,895
4-Years Colleges $22,926
Public, 4-Years Colleges in Pennsylvania $22,942
Graduate Tuition & Fees
The 2025 graduate tuition & fees of Penn State are $45,574 (out-of-state rate) and it is very expensive compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus $45,574
All U.S. Colleges $18,842
Public, 4-Years Colleges $20,343
4-Years Colleges $18,848
Public, 4-Years Colleges in Pennsylvania $25,840
Acceptance Rate
The acceptance rate of Penn State is 61% and it is lower (difficult to get in) compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus 61%
All U.S. Colleges 69%
Public, 4-Years Colleges 72%
4-Years Colleges 68%
Public, 4-Years Colleges in Pennsylvania 82%
Yield (Enrollment Rate)
The yield, also known as enrollment rate, of Penn State is 17% and the yield is lower (admitted, but not enrolled) compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus 17%
All U.S. Colleges 37%
Public, 4-Years Colleges 32%
4-Years Colleges 35%
Public, 4-Years Colleges in Pennsylvania 25%
SAT Scores
The average SAT score submitted by enrolled students at Penn State is 1,330 and it is extremely competitive scores compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus 1,330
All U.S. Colleges 1,123
Public, 4-Years Colleges 1,112
4-Years Colleges 1,124
Public, 4-Years Colleges in Pennsylvania 1,080
ACT Scores
The average ACT score submitted by enrolled students at Penn State is 30 and it is lower compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus 30
All U.S. Colleges 68
Public, 4-Years Colleges 67
4-Years Colleges 68
Public, 4-Years Colleges in Pennsylvania 66
Graduation Rate
The average graduation rate at Penn State is 86% and it is extremely higher (most students completed in-time) compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus 86%
All U.S. Colleges 56%
Public, 4-Years Colleges 48%
4-Years Colleges 51%
Public, 4-Years Colleges in Pennsylvania 63%
Transfer-out Rate
The average transfer-out rate at Penn State is 2% and it is much lower (most first-time students continue to attend) compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus 2%
All U.S. Colleges 21%
Public, 4-Years Colleges 23%
4-Years Colleges 24%
Public, 4-Years Colleges in Pennsylvania 28%
Retention Rate
The average retention rate at Penn State is 93% and it is extremely higher (most students continue to attend) compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus 93%
All U.S. Colleges 69%
Public, 4-Years Colleges 74%
4-Years Colleges 73%
Public, 4-Years Colleges in Pennsylvania 75%
Student Population
The total student population at Penn State is 50,737 and its population very large compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus 50,737
All U.S. Colleges 2,931
Public, 4-Years Colleges 11,396
4-Years Colleges 4,686
Public, 4-Years Colleges in Pennsylvania 6,028
Financial Aid Amount
The average amount of financial aid received at Penn State is $14,013 which is 33.53% of tuition & fees. The rate of the financial aid over its tuition is average compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus $14,013
All U.S. Colleges $7,676
Public, 4-Years Colleges $7,301
4-Years Colleges $12,161
Public, 4-Years Colleges in Pennsylvania $7,270
Student to Faculty Ratio
The students to faculty ratio at Penn State is 16 to 1 and the ratio is average compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus 16 to 1
All U.S. Colleges 15 to 1
Public, 4-Years Colleges 17 to 1
4-Years Colleges 14 to 1
Public, 4-Years Colleges in Pennsylvania 15 to 1
Number of Programs
Penn State offers 445 programs and it means very diverse area of study compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in Pennsylvania.
