University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (UMN) vs The Pennsylvania State University (PSU)

Envision yourself immersed in the vibrant college towns of Minneapolis or State College, home to the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and The Pennsylvania State University, respectively. While both institutions share a commitment to academic excellence, they offer distinct experiences. The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities boasts a higher acceptance rate, welcoming a more diverse student body, while Penn State attracts a slightly larger population of undergraduates. Explore their contrasting popular majors, ranging from business and engineering to communications and health sciences. Discover the nuances in their graduation rates, reflecting the dedication of their faculty and the drive of their students. Delve into the comparison table to uncover further insights into these two esteemed universities, empowering you to make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
The Pennsylvania State University logo

The Pennsylvania State University

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities logo

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Overview

Location University Park, Pennsylvania Minneapolis, Minnesota
Campus setting City: Small City: 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% 92.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 92.3% 73.2%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $65

Graduate: $65
Undergraduate: $55

Graduate: $75
SAT range 1140 - 1360 1310 - 1490
ACT range 25 - 31 27 - 32
Students submitting SAT score 32.0% 7.0%
Students submitting ACT score 6.0% 41.0%
Total number of applicants 96,686 35,905
Total number of admissions given out 89,207 26,295
Admitted students who chose to enroll 16,049 6,883
Yield rate 18.0% 26.2%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Not 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: $29,416

Out of state: $47,980
Average net price $24,012 $17,468
Tuition
In state: $18,368

Out of state: $35,946
In state: $13,532

Out of state: $32,096
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $7,360

Meal plan: $5,618
Room/dormitory: $6,654

Meal plan: $4,860
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

51.0%
Average amount $9,884
65.0%
Average amount $10,362
Students receiving federal student loan 49.0%
Average amount $5,305
37.0%
Average amount $5,188
Students taking out private loans 13.0%
Average amount $19,837
10.0%
Average amount $14,830

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 73,476
Men 53.7% Women 46.3%
36,209
Men 45.4% Women 54.6%
Graduate students 15,438
Men 51.7% Women 48.3%
16,167
Men 43.3% Women 56.7%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 34.1% 28.7%
International students 10.5% 9.7%
Campus local/setting City: Small City: Large
Dormitory capacity 20,547 7,558
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 Minnesota Wisconsin Illinois North Dakota California

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Health Professions
  • Social Sciences
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Education
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Students to faculty ratio 15:1 17:1
Institutional accreditation Middle States Commission on Higher Education Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 72.3% 84.2%
Dropout rate 25.7% 5.2%
Transferred out N/A 9.3%
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
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $124,702
  • Year 2: $140,032
  • Year 3: $149,958
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $97,739
  • Year 2: $121,673
  • Year 3: $129,233
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $117,587
  • Year 2: $112,319
  • Year 3: $124,271
Veterinary Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,570
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $85,198
Computer Systems Analysis (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,084
  • Year 2: $73,446
  • Year 3: $83,343
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,239
  • Year 2: $72,286
  • Year 3: $82,926
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,261
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $82,547
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,091
  • Year 2: $72,022
  • Year 3: $79,753
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,745
  • Year 2: $70,176
  • Year 3: $79,071
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,508
  • Year 2: $68,943
  • Year 3: $78,938

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