Head to head
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus vs University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus (University Park, PA) and University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus (Pittsburgh, PA) compared on cost, admissions, size, and outcomes, using each college’s own federal reporting. Every comparison below is drawn from figures both colleges report — where only one reports a number, no comparison is made.
Side-by-side comparison
| Measure | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus |
|---|---|---|
| Location | University Park, PA | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Institution type | University | University |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Campus setting | Urban | Urban |
| Published in-state tuitionSticker price before aid | $20,644 | $21,926 |
| Published out-of-state tuition | $41,790 | $41,430 |
| Average net priceAverage paid after grants and scholarships | $32,875 | $30,434 |
| Acceptance rate | 61% | 58% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1220–1400 | 1270–1450 |
| Total enrollment | 50,038 | 29,543 |
| Graduation rate | 86% | 86% |
| First-year retention | 93% | 92% |
What the numbers show
- Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus has the lower published in-state tuition ($20,644 vs $21,926 at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus).
- University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus has the lower published out-of-state tuition ($41,430 vs $41,790 at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus).
- University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus has the lower average net price after aid ($30,434 vs $32,875 at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus).
- Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus has the higher graduation rate (86% vs 86% at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus).
- University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus has the lower acceptance rate (58% vs 61% at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus).
- Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus has the larger student body (50,038 students vs 29,543 students at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus).
How to read this comparison
Every statement above is a direct comparison of two reported figures, and appears only when bothcolleges report that measure. Where one reports and the other does not, the row shows “Not reported” and no conclusion is drawn — a data gap is not a finding.
CampusPin does not rank these colleges or declare a winner. A lower acceptance rate is not a quality score, a higher graduation rate partly reflects who a college admits, and published tuition is not what most students pay. Which college is better depends on your program, your finances, and your circumstances.
Frequently asked questions
- Which is cheaper, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus or University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus?
- Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus has the lower published in-state tuition: $20,644 versus $21,926. After grants and scholarships, average net price is $32,875 at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus and $30,434 at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus — net price is the better basis for a cost comparison.
- Is Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus or University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus harder to get into?
- University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus has the lower acceptance rate — 58% versus 61%. A lower acceptance rate means more applicants per seat; it is not by itself a measure of academic quality or of your own chances.
- Which has the better graduation rate, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus or University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus?
- Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus reports the higher graduation rate: 86% versus 86%. Graduation rates reflect the students a college enrolls as well as the support it provides, so read them alongside admissions selectivity.
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Data sources & methodology
Figures for Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus and University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus come from federal datasets and each institution's own reporting.
Sources used across this page
Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.
IPEDS / NCES College Navigator
Federal enrollment, admissions, tuition, retention, and program data. Released annually with a 1–2 year lag.
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
Net price by income band, post-graduation earnings, and federal aid context.
Clery Act campus security reports
Annual campus security and fire-safety disclosures required of U.S. institutions.
Institutional websites
Each school's official admissions, registrar, and financial-aid pages are the authoritative source for current details.
Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.
Suggested citation
CampusPin. Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus vs University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/compare/pennsylvania-state-university-main-campus-vs-university-of-pittsburgh-pittsburgh-campus