Head-to-head

Key differences

The biggest gaps between these schools, largest first.

1. 1

   Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State grads earn $18.3K more ten years out than Pennsylvania State's ($81,698 vs. $63,435)

   Median earnings, 10 yrs
2. 2

   Pennsylvania State has 11 pts more first-gen students than Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State (29% vs. 18%)

   First-generation students
3. 3

   Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State's yield is 8 pts higher than Pennsylvania State's

   Yield rate
4. 4

   Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State costs about $4.8K less per year on average than Pennsylvania State ($40,019 vs. $44,836, all students)

   Average cost, all students
5. 5

   Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State is more diverse (index 0.63 vs. 0.58)

   Diversity index
6. 6

   Pennsylvania State is a bit larger (42,284 vs. 30,923)

   Undergrads

The shape of each school

Each axis is a national rank among 4-year colleges; further out = more of it.