Cleveland Institute of Art vs. Penn State Altoona

Comparable Facts

Compare Cleveland Institute of Art in Cleveland, OH 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 Cleveland Institute of Art based on total student enrollment (2,371 students vs. 545 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cleveland Institute of Art is located in Cleveland, OH (Large City setting); Penn State Altoona is in Altoona, PA (Small City setting).
• Cleveland Institute of Art is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cleveland Institute of Art 9:1; Penn State Altoona 13:1.

Cleveland Institute of Art vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cleveland Institute of Art 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 Cleveland Institute of Art ($21,618 vs. $30,837).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cleveland Institute of Art are 11.2% lower than at Penn State Altoona ($12,850 vs. $14,474).
• Cleveland Institute of Art is 209.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Altoona (about $33,428 more per year; $49,400.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 83.2% higher at Cleveland Institute of Art than at Penn State Altoona (about $22,442 more per year; $49,400.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cleveland Institute of Art than at Penn State Altoona (100% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cleveland Institute of Art students is 205.3% larger than aid received by Penn State Altoona students ($33,857 vs. $11,088).

Cleveland Institute of Art vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cleveland Institute of Art 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 Cleveland Institute of Art.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Altoona (1180) is 50 points higher than at Cleveland Institute of Art (1130).
• Incoming Cleveland Institute of Art students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 25 at Penn State Altoona).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cleveland Institute of Art 980/1280; Penn State Altoona 1070/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cleveland Institute of Art 23/29; Penn State Altoona 22/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cleveland Institute of Art - Test optional; Penn State Altoona - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Cleveland Institute of Art students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Cleveland Institute of Art (61.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.8% at Cleveland Institute of Art vs. 10.3% at Penn State Altoona.

Cleveland Institute of Art vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cleveland Institute of Art 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 Cleveland Institute of Art's (58%).
• Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn a median of about $15,900 more per year than Cleveland Institute of Art graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $39,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Altoona graduates have a $2,182 lower median loan debt than Cleveland Institute of Art graduates ($26,818 vs. $29,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Altoona graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cleveland Institute of Art graduates ($277 vs. $299).
• More Penn State Altoona graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cleveland Institute of Art students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 62%)

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.