Cedar Crest College vs. Penn State Altoona

Comparable Facts

Compare Cedar Crest College in Allentown, 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 Cedar Crest College based on total student enrollment (2,371 students vs. 1,290 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cedar Crest College is located in Allentown, PA (Midsize City setting); Penn State Altoona is in Altoona, PA (Small City setting).
• Cedar Crest College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cedar Crest College 9:1; Penn State Altoona 13:1.

Cedar Crest College vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cedar Crest College 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 Cedar Crest College ($21,618 vs. $23,691).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cedar Crest College are 7.4% lower than at Penn State Altoona ($13,406 vs. $14,474).
• Cedar Crest College is 190% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Altoona (about $30,342 more per year; $46,314.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 71.8% higher at Cedar Crest College than at Penn State Altoona (about $19,356 more per year; $46,314.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cedar Crest College than at Penn State Altoona (99% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cedar Crest College students is 200.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Altoona students ($33,323 vs. $11,088).

Cedar Crest College vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cedar Crest College 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 Cedar Crest College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Altoona (1180) is 60 points higher than at Cedar Crest College (1120).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cedar Crest College 1000/1230; Penn State Altoona 1070/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPenn State Altoona 22/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cedar Crest College - Test-free; Penn State Altoona - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Cedar Crest College students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Cedar Crest College (84.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.5% at Cedar Crest College vs. 10.3% at Penn State Altoona.

Cedar Crest College vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cedar Crest College 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).

• Penn State Altoona's six-year graduation rate (65%) is higher than Cedar Crest College's (50%).
• Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn a median of about $7,500 more per year than Cedar Crest College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $47,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Altoona graduates have a $932 lower median loan debt than Cedar Crest College graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,750).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Altoona graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cedar Crest College graduates ($277 vs. $286).
• More Penn State Altoona graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cedar Crest College students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 59%)

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.