Side-by-side
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus vs Rutgers University
The numbers that actually decide it — net price after aid, how hard each is to get into, and how many students finish — compared straight across. Net price beats sticker price every time.
Same c campus feel and a comparable size (42k undergrads vs 50k undergrads) — students often consider these side-by-side.
| Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | Rutgers University | |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 61% | 66% |
| Net price (in-state) what the average family actually pays after aid | $20,644 | $16,592 |
| Net price (out-of-state) | $41,790 | $35,636 |
| Sticker tuition (in-state) | $20,644 | $17,764 |
| Sticker tuition (out-of-state) | $41,790 | $37,276 |
| Graduation rate | 86% | 82% |
| Total enrollment | 42,284 | 50,411 |
Net price = sticker price minus the average grant aid for that school (IPEDS / Dept. of Education data). Real numbers vary by family income and student stats — verify each school's own Net Price Calculator before committing. Canonical: /compare/pennsylvania-state-university-main-campus-vs-rutgers-university.