Bryn Mawr vs. Penn State Altoona

Comparable Facts

Compare Bryn Mawr College in Bryn Mawr, PA with Penn State Altoona in Altoona, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Altoona is larger than Bryn Mawr based on total student enrollment (2,371 students vs. 1,679 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bryn Mawr College is located in Bryn Mawr, PA (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Altoona is in Altoona, PA (Small City setting).
• Bryn Mawr College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bryn Mawr College 8:1; Penn State Altoona 13:1.

Bryn Mawr vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bryn Mawr or Penn State Altoona? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Altoona than Bryn Mawr ($21,618 vs. $33,221).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 25.4% lower than at Bryn Mawr College ($14,474 vs. $19,400).
• Bryn Mawr College is 312.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Altoona (about $49,948 more per year; $65,920.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 144.5% higher at Bryn Mawr than at Penn State Altoona (about $38,962 more per year; $65,920.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Altoona than at Bryn Mawr College (78% vs. 72%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bryn Mawr College students is 351.2% larger than aid received by Penn State Altoona students ($50,029 vs. $11,088).

Bryn Mawr vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bryn Mawr or Penn State Altoona? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Penn State Altoona and Bryn Mawr.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bryn Mawr College (1400) is 220 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (1180).
• Incoming Bryn Mawr students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 25 at Penn State Altoona).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bryn Mawr College 1280/1510; Penn State Altoona 1070/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bryn Mawr College 29/33; Penn State Altoona 22/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bryn Mawr - Test optional; Penn State Altoona - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Bryn Mawr Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Bryn Mawr students have a 0.45 point higher average high school GPA (3.85) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Bryn Mawr (29.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.5% at Bryn Mawr vs. 10.3% at Penn State Altoona.

Bryn Mawr vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bryn Mawr and Penn State Altoona? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Bryn Mawr College's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Penn State Altoona's (65%).
• Graduates from Bryn Mawr College earn a median of about $6,200 more per year than Penn State Altoona graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,500 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bryn Mawr College graduates have a $818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Bryn Mawr graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Altoona graduates ($268 vs. $277).
• More Bryn Mawr graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Altoona students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.