The Pennsylvania State University (PSU) vs University of Maryland-College Park (UMD)
Envision yourself as a college student, surrounded by vibrant campuses and endless opportunities. As you embark on your academic journey, two esteemed institutions beckon you: The Pennsylvania State University and the University of Maryland-College Park. While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence, they each possess unique characteristics that set them apart. Delve into our comprehensive comparison table to discover the nuances that distinguish these two exceptional institutions. Explore the contrasting acceptance rates, uncover the disparities in popular majors, immerse yourself in the diverse student body demographics, and evaluate the graduation rates that reflect each university's dedication to student success. This side-by-side analysis empowers you to make an informed decision, ensuring that your college experience aligns seamlessly with your aspirations and goals.
|
|
The Pennsylvania State University |
University of Maryland-College Park |
|---|---|---|
Overview |
||
| Location | University Park, Pennsylvania | College Park, Maryland |
| Campus setting | City: Small | Suburb: Large |
| College type | 4 year | 4 year |
| Control/business model | Public | Public |
| Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
| Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
| Students retention rate | 87.0% | 95.0% |
Common app member
|
Yes | Yes |
| Religious affiliation | ||
|
|
||
Admission |
||
| Acceptance rate | 92.3% | 52.0% |
| Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$65
Graduate:
$65
|
Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$75
|
| SAT range | 1140 - 1360 | 1330 - 1510 |
| ACT range | 25 - 31 | 30 - 34 |
| Students submitting SAT score | 32.0% | 34.0% |
| Students submitting ACT score | 6.0% | 9.0% |
| Total number of applicants | 96,686 | 50,183 |
| Total number of admissions given out | 89,207 | 26,109 |
| Admitted students who chose to enroll | 16,049 | 6,072 |
| Yield rate | 18.0% | 23.3% |
| Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
| High school GPA | Required | Required |
| Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
| High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
| English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
|
|
||
Tuition and Fees |
||
| Sticker price |
In state:
$38,270
Out of state:
$55,848
|
In state:
$30,997
Out of state:
$58,678
|
| Average net price | $24,012 | $17,146 |
| Tuition |
In state:
$18,368
Out of state:
$35,946
|
In state:
$9,000
Out of state:
$36,681
|
| Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$7,360
Meal plan:
$5,618
|
Room/dormitory:
$8,072
Meal plan:
$5,578
|
| Available payment plans |
|
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
|
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
51.0%
Average amount $9,884 |
56.0%
Average amount $10,645 |
| Students receiving federal student loan |
49.0%
Average amount $5,305 |
20.0%
Average amount $5,065 |
| Students taking out private loans |
13.0%
Average amount $19,837 |
4.0%
Average amount $22,924 |
|
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
| Undergraduate students |
73,476
Men 53.7% Women 46.3% |
30,922
Men 50.8% Women 49.2% |
| Graduate students |
15,438
Men 51.7% Women 48.3% |
10,350
Men 50.7% Women 49.3% |
| Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Moderate
|
| Out-of-state students | 34.1% | 29.5% |
| International students | 10.5% | 10.3% |
| Campus local/setting | City: Small | Suburb: Large |
| Dormitory capacity | 20,547 | 11,846 |
| First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
| Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Pennsylvania New Jersey New York Maryland Virginia | Maryland New Jersey New York Pennsylvania Virginia |
|
|
||
Academics |
||
| Popular study areas |
|
|
| Students to faculty ratio | 15:1 | 18:1 |
| Institutional accreditation | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
|
|
||
Outcome |
||
| Graduation rate | 72.3% | 87.7% |
| Dropout rate | 25.7% | 4.0% |
| Transferred out | N/A | 7.7% |
| Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Associate's Degrees)
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Master's Degrees)
Systems Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Management Information Systems and Services (Master's Degrees)
Nuclear Engineering (Master's Degrees)
|
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Engineering, General (Master's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Physics (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Compare Similar Colleges
The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing
statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you
don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page.
There, you can search for the
specific colleges and initiate your comparison.
PSU
vs
Auburn University
PSU
vs
Arizona State University Campus Immersion
PSU
vs
University of Arizona
PSU
vs
University of Colorado Boulder
PSU
vs
University of Connecticut
PSU
vs
Quinnipiac University
PSU
vs
University of Delaware
PSU
vs
Florida International University
PSU
vs
Florida State University
PSU
vs
University of Florida
PSU
vs
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
PSU
vs
University of Georgia
PSU
vs
Iowa State University
PSU
vs
University of Maine
PSU
vs
University of Maryland-College Park
PSU
vs
Bentley University
PSU
vs
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
PSU
vs
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
PSU
vs
University of Missouri-Columbia
PSU
vs
University of New Hampshire-Main Campus
PSU
vs
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
PSU
vs
SUNY at Albany
PSU
vs
Binghamton University
PSU
vs
University at Buffalo
PSU
vs
Stony Brook University
PSU
vs
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
PSU
vs
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
PSU
vs
Kent State University at Kent
PSU
vs
Ohio State University-Main Campus
PSU
vs
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus
PSU
vs
Oregon State University
PSU
vs
Cedar Crest College
PSU
vs
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
PSU
vs
Temple University
PSU
vs
Vanderbilt University
PSU
vs
Texas Tech University
PSU
vs
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
PSU
vs
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
PSU
vs
Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences
UMD
vs
University of Alabama at Birmingham
UMD
vs
The University of Alabama
UMD
vs
Auburn University
UMD
vs
Arizona State University Campus Immersion
UMD
vs
University of Arizona
UMD
vs
University of California-Berkeley
UMD
vs
University of California-Davis
UMD
vs
Pepperdine University
UMD
vs
University of Colorado Boulder
UMD
vs
University of Connecticut
UMD
vs
University of Delaware
UMD
vs
Georgetown University
UMD
vs
Florida International University
UMD
vs
Florida State University
UMD
vs
Emory University
UMD
vs
University of Georgia
UMD
vs
Northwestern University
UMD
vs
University of Notre Dame
UMD
vs
Iowa State University
UMD
vs
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
UMD
vs
Frostburg State University
UMD
vs
Johns Hopkins University
UMD
vs
Boston College
UMD
vs
Harvard University
UMD
vs
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
UMD
vs
Dartmouth College
UMD
vs
Jewish Theological Seminary of America
UMD
vs
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
UMD
vs
University of Rhode Island
UMD
vs
Vanderbilt University
UMD
vs
The University of Texas at Dallas
UMD
vs
Texas Tech University
UMD
vs
Brigham Young University
UMD
vs
George Mason University
UMD
vs
University of Virginia-Main Campus
UMD
vs
Washington State University
UMD
vs
West Virginia University
Common app member