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The Pennsylvania State University (PSU) vs Vanderbilt

Nestled in the heart of Pennsylvania, The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) and Vanderbilt University, a prestigious institution in Nashville, Tennessee, stand as two distinct beacons of higher education. While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence, they offer unique experiences shaped by their contrasting acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. Penn State, with its sprawling campus and large student population, boasts a welcoming atmosphere and a wide range of academic programs, while Vanderbilt, known for its rigorous curriculum and intimate learning environment, attracts students seeking a more personalized educational journey. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into the specific details that set these two esteemed universities apart and discover which one aligns best with your aspirations and goals.
The Pennsylvania State University logo

The Pennsylvania State University

 		Vanderbilt University logo

Vanderbilt University

Overview

Location University Park, Pennsylvania Nashville, Tennessee
Campus setting City: Small City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 87.0% 97.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 92.3% 7.1%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $65
Graduate: $65
Undergraduate: $50
Graduate: $95
SAT range 1140 - 1360 1480 - 1570
ACT range 25 - 31 34 - 35
Students submitting SAT score 32.0% 25.0%
Students submitting ACT score 6.0% 32.0%
Total number of applicants 96,686 47,152
Total number of admissions given out 89,207 3,368
Admitted students who chose to enroll 16,049 1,626
Yield rate 18.0% 48.3%
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
$79,538
Average net price $24,012 $27,553
Tuition
In state: $18,368
Out of state: $35,946
$54,840
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $7,360
Meal plan: $5,618
Room/dormitory: $12,000
Meal plan: $6,376
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

 51.0%
Average amount $9,884 		64.0%
Average amount $49,730
Students receiving federal student loan 49.0%
Average amount $5,305 		10.0%
Average amount $4,979
Students taking out private loans 13.0%
Average amount $19,837 		2.0%
Average amount $27,798

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students 73,476
Men 53.7% Women 46.3% 		7,111
Men 48.9% Women 51.1%
Graduate students 15,438
Men 51.7% Women 48.3% 		6,685
Men 39.5% Women 60.5%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students 34.1% 89.5%
International students 10.5% 11.7%
Campus local/setting City: Small City: Large
Dormitory capacity 20,547 5,598
First year students are required to live on campus? No Yes
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Pennsylvania New Jersey New York Maryland Virginia Tennessee California New York Florida Texas

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Health Professions
  • Social Sciences
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Legal Profession
Students to faculty ratio 15:1 8:1
Institutional accreditation Middle States Commission on Higher Education Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 72.3% 93.4%
Dropout rate 25.7% 6.4%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $109,295
  • Year 2: $120,549
  • Year 3: $125,527
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $99,798
  • Year 2: $95,930
  • Year 3: $120,289
Computer Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $100,190
  • Year 2: $97,959
  • Year 3: $113,544
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $98,403
  • Year 3: $108,754
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $100,372
  • Year 2: $100,455
  • Year 3: $107,874
Systems Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $96,574
  • Year 2: $99,291
  • Year 3: $104,370
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $95,304
  • Year 2: $97,855
  • Year 3: $104,056
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $92,512
  • Year 2: $94,864
  • Year 3: $103,461
Management Information Systems and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $92,632
  • Year 3: $98,201
Nuclear Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $89,155
  • Year 3: $94,780
Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $101,041
  • Year 2: $122,038
  • Year 3: $169,145
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $129,825
  • Year 2: $130,517
  • Year 3: $144,008
Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $131,102
  • Year 2: $117,572
  • Year 3: $133,025
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $128,494
  • Year 2: $127,087
  • Year 3: $132,454
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $132,293
  • Year 2: $114,324
  • Year 3: $130,516
Marketing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $108,764
  • Year 2: $111,620
  • Year 3: $121,754
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $126,876
  • Year 2: $119,805
  • Year 3: $112,193
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $91,224
  • Year 2: $104,192
  • Year 3: $108,525
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $99,979
  • Year 2: $93,249
  • Year 3: $101,010
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,609
  • Year 2: $80,309
  • Year 3: $95,754

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