Skip to content

College Comparison

Indiana University vs Penn State: Which is Better?

Side-by-side comparison of acceptance rates, SAT scores, tuition, earnings, and more, updated with the latest College Scorecard data.

School

Indiana University

Bloomington, IN

School

Penn State

University Park, PA

Head-to-Head Stats

MetricIndiana UniversityPenn State
Acceptance Rate80.4%54.2%wins
SAT Range (25th–75th)1170–14001220–1400wins
ACT Range (25th–75th)27–3227–32
Tuition (Out-of-State)$40,482$40,188wins
Avg Net Price$15,342wins$32,598
Median Earnings (10 yr)$63,742wins$63,435
Graduation Rate81.2%85.7%wins
Retention Rate90.5%92.0%wins
Student–Faculty Ratio18:115:1wins
Total Enrollment36,57141,862wins

Verdict

Based on the data above, Penn State edges out Indiana University on 7 of 9 measurable categories, including key factors like acceptance rate, earnings, and graduation rate. That said, the right choice depends heavily on your major, financial situation, and campus culture fit.

Indiana University Strengths

  • Avg Net Price: $15,342
  • Median Earnings (10 yr): $63,742

Penn State Strengths

  • Acceptance Rate: 54.2%
  • SAT Range (25th–75th): 1220–1400
  • Tuition (Out-of-State): $40,188
  • Graduation Rate: 85.7%

Want a deeper comparison?

Our interactive compare tool lets you add more schools, filter by major, and see financial aid breakdowns by income level.

Open Compare Tool

Related Comparisons