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College Comparison

Penn State vs Middlebury College: 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

Middlebury College

Middlebury, VT

Head-to-Head Stats

MetricPenn StateMiddlebury
Acceptance Rate54.2%10.4%wins
SAT Range (25th–75th)1220–14001430–1550wins
ACT Range (25th–75th)27–3233–34wins
Tuition (Out-of-State)$40,188wins$65,280
Avg Net Price$32,598$25,934wins
Median Earnings (10 yr)$63,435$76,310wins
Graduation Rate85.7%92.6%wins
Retention Rate92.0%93.6%wins
Student–Faculty Ratio15:19:1wins
Total Enrollment41,862wins2,785

Verdict

Based on the data above, Middlebury edges out Penn State on 8 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
  • Total Enrollment: 41,862

Middlebury Strengths

  • Acceptance Rate: 10.4%
  • SAT Range (25th–75th): 1430–1550
  • ACT Range (25th–75th): 33–34
  • Avg Net Price: $25,934

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