Elms College vs. Penn State Altoona

Comparable Facts

Compare College of Our Lady of the Elms in Chicopee, MA 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 Elms College based on total student enrollment (2,371 students vs. 1,268 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of Our Lady of the Elms is located in Chicopee, MA (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Altoona is in Altoona, PA (Small City setting).
• College of Our Lady of the Elms is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Our Lady of the Elms 11:1; Penn State Altoona 13:1.

Elms College vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elms 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 College of Our Lady of the Elms than Penn State Altoona ($19,870 vs. $21,618).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 7.2% lower than at College of Our Lady of the Elms ($14,474 vs. $15,605).
• College of Our Lady of the Elms is 171.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Altoona (about $27,353 more per year; $43,325.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 60.7% higher at Elms College than at Penn State Altoona (about $16,367 more per year; $43,325.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of Our Lady of the Elms than at Penn State Altoona (100% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of Our Lady of the Elms students is 204.8% larger than aid received by Penn State Altoona students ($33,794 vs. $11,088).

Elms College vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Elms 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 Elms College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at College of Our Lady of the Elms (1240) is 60 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (1180).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: College of Our Lady of the Elms 1150/1320; 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: Elms College - Test optional; Penn State Altoona - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Elms 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 Elms College (85.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.9% at Elms College vs. 10.3% at Penn State Altoona.

Elms College vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Elms 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 College of Our Lady of the Elms's (58%).
• Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn a median of about $9,000 more per year than Elms College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $46,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of Our Lady of the Elms graduates have a $1,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Elms College graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Altoona graduates ($258 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Altoona graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Elms College 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.