Purdue University-Main Campus vs. Penn State University (PSU) Overview
You’re wrestling with a tough question: “Should I go to Purdue-West Lafayette or Penn State University (PSU)?“
Purdue University-Main Campus
Penn State University (PSU)
Can you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesCan you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesThis complete guide analyzes both the quantitative and qualitative differences between Purdue University-Main Campus and Penn State University (PSU). This comparison is particularly valuable at understanding the cultural nuances between the colleges since it uses student videos to capture the “vibes” of campus - these videos are exclusively available on CampusReel :)
Differences between Purdue University-Main Campus and Penn State University (PSU)
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s go through a general overview of the high-level differences between Purdue University-Main Campus and Penn State University (PSU). The table below summarizes some of the most important statistics around competitiveness, costs, etc.
| Purdue University-Main Campus | Penn State University (PSU) | |
|---|---|---|
| In-state Tuition | $10,002 | $17,514 |
| Net Price | $13,516 | $29,226 |
| Average Financial Aid | $6,845 | $7,736 |
| Total Undergraduates | 30233 | 40179 |
| Average SAT Scores | 1080 - 1330 | 1090 - 1300 |
| Acceptance Rate | 59 | 51 |
| Location | Hovde Hall of Administration | 201 Old Main |
| City Name | West Lafayette | University Park |
WARNINGS: Based on net price alone, Purdue University-Main Campus is the cheaper option. However, this sticker price may not adequately represent the difference in living costs between West Lafayette and University Park. Purdue-West Lafayette is in a East North Central and Penn State University (PSU) is in a Mid-Atlantic - sometimes off campus meals and housing costs can dramatically vary between schools
Is Purdue University-Main Campus or Penn State University (PSU) Harder to get into? Which school is easier to get into?
If you’re looking at acceptance rate alone, then Penn State University (PSU) is more difficult to get into. However, each college is looking to fill its incoming class with a variety of students with different strengths, backgrounds, etc.
Therefore, the acceptance rate alone is not a good indicator that Penn State University (PSU) is a better school or will be more difficult for you specifically to get into. On the flipside, Purdue University-Main Campus is easier to get into based on acceptance rate alone.
You can use the below college admissions predictor to determine your likelihood of acceptance at either school.
How Do Purdue-West Lafayette Dorms Compare to housing Options at Penn State University (PSU)?
Both colleges provide on-campus living options. Purdue-West Lafayette charges for on-campus living, while Penn State University (PSU) charges N/A for on-campus living. Most importantly, though, check out the video below for a sample of dorm tours at each school.
Purdue-West Lafayette and Penn State University (PSU) student body differences
The table below helps demonstrate the student body differences as well.
| Purdue University-Main Campus, % | Penn State University (PSU),% | |
|---|---|---|
| White | 64.64 | 68.61 |
| Hispanic | 4.35 | 5.949999999999999 |
| Black | 2.98 | 4.19 |
| Foreign | 17.24 | 10.66 |
| Others | 10.8 | 10.6 |
How different is the Purdue University-Main Campus campus compared to Penn State University (PSU) campus?
The Purdue-West Lafayette campus is located in West Lafayette, IN and is characterized as Suburb: Midsize (outside principal city, in urbanized area with population of at least 100,000 but less than 250,000). The Penn State University (PSU) campus is located in University Park, PA and is characterized as City: Small (population less than 100,000).
Which school gives more financial aid?
Purdue-West Lafayette provides $6,845 whereas Penn State University (PSU) provides an average of $7,736.
How does Purdue-West Lafayette academics compare to Penn State University (PSU)?
When analyzing academics between Purdue University-Main Campus and Penn State University (PSU) we’ll look at both what current students are studying and also where they end up after graduation. After all, college should prepare you for a career! Analyzing each school’s outcomes is super valuable to understand the value of the degree.
| Majors | Purdue-West Lafayette | Penn State University (PSU) |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture agriculture operations and related sciences | 460 | 320 |
| Natural resources and conservation | 88 | 102 |
| Architecture and related services | 15 | 74 |
| Area ethnic cultural gender and group studies | 16 | 32 |
| Communication journalism and related programs | 149 | 831 |
| Computer and information sciences and support services | 443 | 956 |
| Communications technologies technicians and support services | N/A | N/A |
| Personal and culinary services | N/A | N/A |
| Engineering | 1685 | 1886 |
| Education | 247 | 346 |
| Engineering technologies and engineering related fields | 538 | N/A |
Which is better: Purdue University-Main Campus or Penn State University (PSU)?
We’ve compared dorm life, costs, outcomes and more to provide the most complete comparison between Purdue-West Lafayette and Penn State University (PSU). But, you’re smart enough to know that numbers paint a terrible picture for truly understanding what each college and community is like. And, the real answer to which school is better is: the school that’s right for you. No matter who you ask, if they know what they’re talking about, the answer is the same: the “better” school is whatever is the best fit for you personally. That’s why it’s extremely important to check out all the videos on CampusReel for each school.
How does Purdue-West Lafayette social life compare to Penn State University (PSU)?
It’s tough to understand the nuances of social life with data alone. That’s why we’ve brought in real student videos to show how Purdue-West Lafayette social life differs from Penn State University (PSU).
Check here.
Check here.