Alvernia University vs. Penn State Altoona

Should I go to Alvernia University or Penn State Altoona? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Alvernia University or Penn State Altoona is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Alvernia University vs. Penn State Altoona comparison
Alvernia University Penn State Altoona College 3 College 4
Alvernia University
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Overview

Alvernia University Penn State Altoona
Location Reading, PA Altoona, PA
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 2,484 2,577
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #739 #584
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website alvernia.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Alvernia University Penn State Altoona
Tuition (In State) $39,100 $15,388
Tuition (Out of State) $39,100 $25,854
Room & Board $14,030 $12,984
Avg Net Price $27,091 $20,621
Avg Grant Aid $25,757 $9,574
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 68%

Admission

Alvernia University Penn State Altoona
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,703 7,523
Admitted 3,365 7,204
Acceptance Rate 59% 95.8%
Enrolled % 14.8% 12.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.41 3.4
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/28
SAT Range 996/1170 1050/1250
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

Alvernia University Penn State Altoona
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (33%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

Alvernia University Penn State Altoona
Graduation Rate 53% 65%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,800 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 61% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $279 $277

Diversity

Alvernia University Penn State Altoona
% Men 35% 53%
% Women 65% 47%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 69% 77%
% Black 13% 7%
% Hispanic 7% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 2%
% International 0% 5%
% Unknown Race 7% 1%

Students

Alvernia University Penn State Altoona
% In-State 72% 59%
% Out-of-State 25% 35%

Campus

Alvernia University Penn State Altoona
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Penn State Altoona is larger than than Alvernia University based on total student enrollment (2,577 students vs. 2,484 students)

Alvernia University vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alvernia University or Penn State Altoona?

  • Alvernia University is 154.1% more expensive to attend than Penn State Altoona for in-state tuition ($39,100.00 vs. $15,388.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 51.2% higher at Alvernia University than Penn State Altoona ($39,100.00 vs. $25,854.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Altoona than Alvernia University ($20,621 vs. $27,091)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 8.1% lower than costs at Alvernia University ($12,984 vs. $14,030)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Alvernia University than Penn State Altoona (100% vs. 68%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Alvernia University students is 169% larger than aid received Penn State Altoona ($25,757 vs. $9,574)

Alvernia University vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Alvernia University or Penn State Altoona? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State Altoona or Alvernia University .

  • The average SAT score at Alvernia University (998) is 5 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (993)
  • Incoming Alvernia University students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at Penn State Altoona (22)
  • Accepted freshman Alvernia University students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4)
  • Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (95.8%) than Alvernia University (59%)

Alvernia University vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Alvernia University or Penn State Altoona? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Penn State Altoona and Alvernia University.

  • The graduation rate at Penn State Altoona is higher than Alvernia University (65% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn on average $10,500 more per year than Alvernia University graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $44,800)
  • Penn State Altoona students graduate with a $182 lower median federal student loan debt than Alvernia University graduates. ($26,818 vs. $27,000)
  • Penn State Altoona graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Alvernia University graduates. ($277 vs. $279)
  • More Penn State Altoona graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Alvernia University students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 61%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/