University of Notre Dame vs. Penn State University (PSU) Overview
You’re wrestling with a tough question: “Should I go to Notre Dame or Penn State University (PSU)?“
University of Notre Dame
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 University of Notre Dame 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 University of Notre Dame 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 University of Notre Dame and Penn State University (PSU). The table below summarizes some of the most important statistics around competitiveness, costs, etc.
| University of Notre Dame | Penn State University (PSU) | |
|---|---|---|
| In-state Tuition | $47,929 | $17,514 |
| Net Price | $29,727 | $29,226 |
| Average Financial Aid | $38,425 | $7,736 |
| Total Undergraduates | 8425 | 40179 |
| Average SAT Scores | 1350 - 1530 | 1090 - 1300 |
| Acceptance Rate | 20 | 51 |
| Location | 400 Main Building | 201 Old Main |
| City Name | Notre Dame | University Park |
WARNINGS: Based on net price alone, Penn State University (PSU) is the cheaper option. However, this sticker price may not adequately represent the difference in living costs between Notre Dame and University Park. Notre Dame 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 University of Notre Dame 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 University of Notre Dame 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 University of Notre Dame is a better school or will be more difficult for you specifically to get into. On the flipside, Penn State University (PSU) 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 Notre Dame Dorms Compare to housing Options at Penn State University (PSU)?
Both colleges provide on-campus living options. Notre Dame 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.
Notre Dame and Penn State University (PSU) student body differences
The table below helps demonstrate the student body differences as well.
| University of Notre Dame, % | Penn State University (PSU),% | |
|---|---|---|
| White | 69.21000000000001 | 68.61 |
| Hispanic | 10.71 | 5.949999999999999 |
| Black | 3.83 | 4.19 |
| Foreign | 5.510000000000001 | 10.66 |
| Others | 10.7 | 10.6 |
How different is the University of Notre Dame campus compared to Penn State University (PSU) campus?
The Notre Dame campus is located in Notre Dame, IN and is characterized as Suburb: Large (outside principal city, in urbanized area with population of 250,000 or more). 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?
Notre Dame provides $38,425 whereas Penn State University (PSU) provides an average of $7,736.
How does Notre Dame academics compare to Penn State University (PSU)?
When analyzing academics between University of Notre Dame 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 | Notre Dame | Penn State University (PSU) |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture agriculture operations and related sciences | N/A | 320 |
| Natural resources and conservation | 18 | 102 |
| Architecture and related services | 31 | 74 |
| Area ethnic cultural gender and group studies | 25 | 32 |
| Communication journalism and related programs | N/A | 831 |
| Computer and information sciences and support services | 82 | 956 |
| Communications technologies technicians and support services | N/A | N/A |
| Personal and culinary services | N/A | N/A |
| Engineering | 346 | 1886 |
| Education | 1 | 346 |
| Engineering technologies and engineering related fields | N/A | N/A |
Which is better: University of Notre Dame or Penn State University (PSU)?
We’ve compared dorm life, costs, outcomes and more to provide the most complete comparison between Notre Dame 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 Notre Dame 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 Notre Dame social life differs from Penn State University (PSU).
Check here.
Check here.