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College Comparison

Penn State vs University of Miami: Which is Better?

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

School

Penn State

University Park, PA

School

University of Miami

Coral Gables, FL

Head-to-Head Stats

MetricPenn StateUniversity of Miami
Acceptance Rate54.2%18.5%wins
SAT Range (25th–75th)1220–14001330–1470wins
ACT Range (25th–75th)27–3230–33wins
Tuition (Out-of-State)$40,188wins$59,926
Avg Net Price$32,598wins$36,803
Median Earnings (10 yr)$63,435$75,328wins
Graduation Rate85.7%wins84.2%
Retention Rate92.0%92.2%wins
Student–Faculty Ratio15:111:1wins
Total Enrollment41,862wins12,570

Verdict

Based on the data above, University of Miami edges out Penn State on 6 of 10 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.

Penn State Strengths

  • Tuition (Out-of-State): $40,188
  • Avg Net Price: $32,598
  • Graduation Rate: 85.7%
  • Total Enrollment: 41,862

University of Miami Strengths

  • Acceptance Rate: 18.5%
  • SAT Range (25th–75th): 1330–1470
  • ACT Range (25th–75th): 30–33
  • Median Earnings (10 yr): $75,328

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