Yale University vs The Pennsylvania State University (PSU)
Yale University and The Pennsylvania State University, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Yale, an Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, boasts a highly selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 6.3%. Penn State, a public research university with multiple campuses across Pennsylvania, offers a more accessible admissions process with an acceptance rate of 54.4%. While Yale's student body is predominantly undergraduate, Penn State has a larger graduate student population. Both universities offer a wide range of academic programs, with popular majors at Yale including Social Sciences, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, and Engineering, while Penn State's popular majors include Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Engineering, and Social Sciences. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details and discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() The Pennsylvania State University |
![]() Yale University |
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Overview |
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Location | University Park, Pennsylvania | New Haven, Connecticut |
Campus setting | City: Small | City: Midsize |
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% | 98.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 92.3% | 5.3% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$65
Graduate:
$65
|
Undergraduate:
$80
Graduate:
$105
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SAT range | 1140 - 1360 | 1480 - 1580 |
ACT range | 25 - 31 | 33 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 32.0% | 54.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 6.0% | 35.0% |
Total number of applicants | 96,686 | 47,240 |
Total number of admissions given out | 89,207 | 2,509 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 16,049 | 1,786 |
Yield rate | 18.0% | 71.2% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$38,270
Out of state:
$55,848
|
$82,170 |
Average net price | $24,012 | $20,605 |
Tuition |
In state:
$18,368
Out of state:
$35,946
|
$59,950 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$7,360
Meal plan:
$5,618
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Room/dormitory:
$10,100
Meal plan:
$7,700
|
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
51.0%
Average amount $9,884 |
58.0%
Average amount $58,715 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
49.0%
Average amount $5,305 |
5.0%
Average amount $4,879 |
Students taking out private loans |
13.0%
Average amount $19,837 |
0.0%
Average amount $5,094 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
73,476
Men 53.7% Women 46.3% |
6,536
Men 48.6% Women 51.4% |
Graduate students |
15,438
Men 51.7% Women 48.3% |
8,031
Men 46.3% Women 53.7% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 34.1% | 93.6% |
International students | 10.5% | 21.6% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | City: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 20,547 | 5,576 |
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 | California New York Connecticut Texas New Jersey |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 15:1 | 6:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | New England Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 72.3% | 96.9% |
Dropout rate | 25.7% | 2.5% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Associate's Degrees)
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Master's Degrees)
Systems Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Management Information Systems and Services (Master's Degrees)
Nuclear Engineering (Master's Degrees)
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Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Law (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Medicine (Doctoral Degrees)
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Master's Degrees)
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