Academic Comparison between Penn State and Cedar Crest

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus and Cedar Crest College are frequently compared when students or parents prepare college admissions. Penn State is a four-year, public school located in University Park, PA and Cedar Crest is a four-year, private (not-for-profit) school located in Allentown, PA.

Comparison at a Glance

The following list compares two colleges briefly in important perspectives. You can compare them with comprehensive information on full comparison page.

  • Penn State is a public and Cedar Crest is a private (not-for-profit) school and both are four-year schools.
  • Cedar Crest has more expensive tuition & fees ($46,314) than Penn State ($41,790).
  • It is harder to admit to Penn State than Cedar Crest.
  • Penn State has more students with 50,737 students while Cedar Crest has 1,290 students.
  • Cedar Crest has a lower number of students per faculty with 9 to 1 while Penn State's ratio is 16 to 1.
  • Penn State has more full-time faculties with 4,174 faculties while Cedar Crest has 73 full-time faculties.
Which school is more in your mind and would you like to go to?
Penn State Cedar Crest
Vote to see the other's choices.

Comparison Table with important Academic Factors

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campusvs.Cedar Crest College
University Park, PennsylvaniaLocationAllentown, Pennsylvania
Four-year, PublicSchool Typefour-year, Private (not-for-profit)
Doctor's degreeHighest Degree OfferedDoctor's degree
Research University (very high research activity)Carnegie ClassificationMaster's College and University (smaller programs)
In-State$20,644
Out-Of-State$41,790
2025 Tuition & Fees$46,314
50%% Receiving Financial Aid95%
$14,013Average Amount of Financial Aid$23,089
60.56 %Acceptance Rates84.07 %
17.11 %Yield (Enrollment Rates)13.54 %
1,330SAT Score-
30ACT Score-
86 %Graduation Rate60 %
2 %Transfer-out Rate29 %
93 %Retention Rate71 %
50,737Student Population1,290
4,174Number of Faculties73
16 to 1Students to Faculty Ratio9 to 1
Distance Learning (Online Classes), ROTC, Study Abroad, Weekend/Evening College, Teacher CertificationSpecial Learning OpportunitiesDistance Learning (Online Classes), Study Abroad, Weekend/Evening College, Teacher Certification
Academic/career counseling service, Employment services, On-campus daycareOn Campus Student ServicesAcademic/career counseling service, Employment services, Placement services