Catawba College vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny

Comparable Facts

Compare Catawba College in Salisbury, NC with Penn State Greater Allegheny in McKeesport, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Catawba College is larger than Penn State Greater Allegheny based on total student enrollment (1,376 students vs. 352 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Catawba College is located in Salisbury, NC (Distant Town setting); Penn State Greater Allegheny is in McKeesport, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Catawba College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Greater Allegheny is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Catawba College 13:1; Penn State Greater Allegheny 9:1.

Catawba College vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Catawba College or Penn State Greater Allegheny? 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 Greater Allegheny than Catawba College ($15,574 vs. $18,447).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Catawba College are 6.3% lower than at Penn State Greater Allegheny ($13,565 vs. $14,474).
• Catawba College is 138.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Greater Allegheny (about $19,892 more per year; $34,300.00 vs. $14,408.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 42.1% higher at Catawba College than at Penn State Greater Allegheny (about $10,166 more per year; $34,300.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Catawba College than at Penn State Greater Allegheny (100% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba College students is 177% larger than aid received by Penn State Greater Allegheny students ($30,808 vs. $11,121).

Catawba College vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Catawba College or Penn State Greater Allegheny? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Penn State Greater Allegheny and Catawba College.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Penn State Greater Allegheny (1180) is 10 points higher than at Catawba College (1170).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Catawba College 1030/1300; Penn State Greater Allegheny 1080/1280.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Catawba College 17/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Catawba College - Test optional; Penn State Greater Allegheny - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Catawba College Aug 15, 2027.
• Penn State Greater Allegheny has a higher acceptance rate (96.5%) than Catawba College (75.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.5% at Catawba College vs. 19.5% at Penn State Greater Allegheny.

Catawba College vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Catawba College and Penn State Greater Allegheny? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Catawba College's six-year graduation rate (54%) is higher than Penn State Greater Allegheny's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Greater Allegheny earn a median of about $13,300 more per year than Catawba College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $42,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Catawba College graduates have a $1,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Greater Allegheny graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Catawba College graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Greater Allegheny graduates ($258 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Greater Allegheny graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Catawba College students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 60%)

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.