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The Pennsylvania State University (PSU) vs University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)

Envision yourself as a college student, surrounded by vibrant campuses and a diverse student body. As you embark on your academic journey, it's essential to find a university that aligns with your aspirations and values. In this comprehensive comparison, we delve into the intricacies of two esteemed institutions: The Pennsylvania State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Discover the nuances that set them apart, from their acceptance rates and popular majors to student demographics and graduation outcomes. Explore the detailed table below to uncover the institution that resonates with your unique academic aspirations and personal preferences, ensuring a fulfilling and transformative college experience.
The Pennsylvania State University logo

The Pennsylvania State University

 		University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill logo

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Overview

Location University Park, Pennsylvania Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Campus setting City: Small City: Small
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% 97.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 92.3% 20.4%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $65
Graduate: $65
Undergraduate: $85
Graduate: $95
SAT range 1140 - 1360 1140 - 1380
ACT range 25 - 31 22 - 27
Students submitting SAT score 32.0% 2.0%
Students submitting ACT score 6.0% 12.0%
Total number of applicants 96,686 50,729
Total number of admissions given out 89,207 10,348
Admitted students who chose to enroll 16,049 4,690
Yield rate 18.0% 45.3%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required 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: $24,770
Out of state: $52,633
Average net price $24,012 $11,508
Tuition
In state: $18,368
Out of state: $35,946
In state: $7,019
Out of state: $34,882
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $7,360
Meal plan: $5,618
Room/dormitory: $6,878
Meal plan: $5,004
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

 51.0%
Average amount $9,884 		42.0%
Average amount $16,076
Students receiving federal student loan 49.0%
Average amount $5,305 		17.0%
Average amount $4,244
Students taking out private loans 13.0%
Average amount $19,837 		3.0%
Average amount $14,032

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students 73,476
Men 53.7% Women 46.3% 		19,845
Men 39.6% Women 60.4%
Graduate students 15,438
Men 51.7% Women 48.3% 		11,796
Men 41.4% Women 58.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 34.1% 16.2%
International students 10.5% 6.8%
Campus local/setting City: Small City: Small
Dormitory capacity 20,547 9,984
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 North Carolina Georgia Maryland New York Pennsylvania

Academics

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

Outcome

Graduation rate 72.3% 90.5%
Dropout rate 25.7% 3.7%
Transferred out N/A 5.4%
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
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $168,979
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $238,213
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $135,965
  • Year 2: $127,836
  • Year 3: $150,089
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $116,248
  • Year 2: $82,440
  • Year 3: $128,102
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,961
  • Year 2: $103,078
  • Year 3: $117,488
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $89,271
  • Year 2: $86,036
  • Year 3: $96,602
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,162
  • Year 2: $72,083
  • Year 3: $95,204
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,938
  • Year 2: $73,823
  • Year 3: $89,917
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,557
  • Year 2: $57,770
  • Year 3: $87,057
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,899
  • Year 2: $67,660
  • Year 3: $86,155
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,205
  • Year 2: $68,666
  • Year 3: $82,520

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