The Pennsylvania State University (PSU) vs Cedar Crest College

Envision yourself immersed in the vibrant college town of State College, Pennsylvania, or the serene suburban setting of Allentown, Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania State University, a public research university, and Cedar Crest College, a private liberal arts college, offer distinct educational experiences. With acceptance rates of 54% and 75%, respectively, these institutions cater to diverse student populations. While Penn State boasts a larger student body, Cedar Crest fosters a close-knit community. Explore their popular majors, ranging from engineering and business to nursing and education, and discover the unique opportunities each college provides. Compare graduation rates, financial aid packages, and campus life to determine which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences. Dive into the comparison table to uncover further insights and make an informed decision about your higher education journey.

	Cedar Crest College	The Pennsylvania State University
Overview
Location	Allentown, Pennsylvania	University Park, Pennsylvania
Campus setting	City: Midsize	City: Small
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Private (Non Profit)	Public
Calendar system	Semester	Semester
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	75.0%	87.0%
Common app member	Yes	Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	68.8%	92.3%
Application fees	$50	Undergraduate: $65 Graduate: $65
SAT range	1020 - 1210	1140 - 1360
ACT range	20 - 29	25 - 31
Students submitting SAT score	33.0%	32.0%
Students submitting ACT score	4.0%	6.0%
Total number of applicants	1,233	96,686
Total number of admissions given out	848	89,207
Admitted students who chose to enroll	168	16,049
Yield rate	19.8%	18.0%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Required	Required
Recommendation letters	Required	Not required
High school transcript	Required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$58,610	In state: $38,270 Out of state: $55,848
Average net price	$23,501	$24,012
Tuition	$41,991	In state: $18,368 Out of state: $35,946
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $5,750 Meal plan: $6,769	Room/dormitory: $7,360 Meal plan: $5,618
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	99.0% Average amount $30,039	51.0% Average amount $9,884
Students receiving federal student loan	84.0% Average amount $5,564	49.0% Average amount $5,305
Students taking out private loans	22.0% Average amount $13,506	13.0% Average amount $19,837

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	1,053 Men 6.2% Women 93.8%	73,476 Men 53.7% Women 46.3%
Graduate students	387 Men 14.2% Women 85.8%	15,438 Men 51.7% Women 48.3%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Low	Low
Out-of-state students	27.4%	34.1%
International students	3.3%	10.5%
Campus local/setting	City: Midsize	City: Small
Dormitory capacity	552	20,547
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	Pennsylvania New Jersey Maryland Delaware New York	Pennsylvania New Jersey New York Maryland Virginia

Academics
Popular study areas	Health Professions Business Education Family and Consumer Sciences Public Administration and Social Service	Business Engineering Computer and Information Science Health Professions Social Sciences
Students to faculty ratio	9:1	15:1
Institutional accreditation	Middle States Commission on Higher Education	Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome
Graduation rate	63.7%	72.3%
Dropout rate	22.4%	25.7%
Transferred out	13.4%	N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $64,377 Year 2: $64,406 Year 3: $65,730 Education, General (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $46,752 Year 2: $46,869 Year 3: $50,703 Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services (Graduate/Professional Certificates) Year 1: $49,958 Year 2: $45,696 Year 3: $49,457 Social Work (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $33,565 Year 3: $40,802 Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $28,443 Year 3: $28,616 Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $32,925 Year 3: N/A Criminology (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $33,993 Year 3: N/A Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $29,141 Year 3: N/A Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $44,021 Year 3: N/A	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

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