My colleges

University of Pittsburgh vs Penn State

Penn State is harder to get into (55% vs 59% admitted), but students with aid paid less there on average (in-state): $29,362 vs $33,675 a year.

Highlighted = the better number: lower price or debt, higher rate or pay.

University of Pittsburgh Penn State
Getting in
MeasureUniversity of PittsburghPenn State
Admit rate 59% 55%
SAT, enrolled first-years (middle 50%) 1280–1460 1280–1410
ACT, enrolled first-years (middle 50%) 29–33 28–32
SAT or ACT for fall 2027 Optional Optional
Next deadline Rolling Closed
Cost
MeasureUniversity of PittsburghPenn State
Sticker price per year (in-state at public colleges) $38,719 $41,003
Average paid after grants (in-state at public colleges) $29,362 $33,675
Average paid from out of state, estimated $50,058 $56,067
What in-state families with aid paid, by income
MeasureUniversity of PittsburghPenn State
Under $30,000 $16,477 $22,193
$30,000–$48,000 $15,485 $21,267
$48,000–$75,000 $19,080 $25,458
$75,000–$110,000 $28,146 $31,948
Over $110,000 $35,864 $39,140
After you start
MeasureUniversity of PittsburghPenn State
Undergrads 20,370 42,284
Graduate within 6 years 84% 86%
Come back for year two 92% 93%
Median earnings 10 years after starting $73,113 $71,762
Median debt at graduation $23,000 $24,500

Highlighted only when the gap is at least 5%. "Average paid" is what students who got federal aid paid per year after grants, not a price quote; at public colleges the income rows are in-state students. The out-of-state estimate adds a public college's extra out-of-state tuition to its in-state average; out-of-state students usually get less aid, so many pay more. How we get our numbers

See University of Pittsburgh See Penn State