York vs. Penn State Altoona

Comparable Facts

Compare CUNY York College in Jamaica, NY with Penn State Altoona in Altoona, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

CUNY York College is larger than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (6,174 students vs. 2,371 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• CUNY York College is located in Jamaica, NY (Large City setting); Penn State Altoona is in Altoona, PA (Small City setting).
• CUNY York College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY York College 13:1; Penn State Altoona 13:1.

York vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, York 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 CUNY York College than Penn State Altoona ($5,131 vs. $21,618).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 35% lower than at CUNY York College ($14,474 vs. $22,260).
• Penn State Altoona is 117.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than York (about $8,614 more per year; $15,972.00 vs. $7,358.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 76.1% higher at Penn State Altoona than at CUNY York College (about $11,650 more per year; $26,958.00 vs. $15,308.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY York College than at Penn State Altoona (83% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Altoona students is 21.1% larger than aid received by CUNY York College students ($11,088 vs. $9,154).

York vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, York 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 York.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Altoona (1180) is 300 points higher than at York (880).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: CUNY York College 790/960; 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: York - Test optional; Penn State Altoona - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: York Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Altoona students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at York (3.15).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than York (64.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.7% at York vs. 10.3% at Penn State Altoona.

York vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for York 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 CUNY York College's (20%).
• Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn a median of about $12,100 more per year than York graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $43,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY York College graduates have a $18,018 lower median loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates ($8,800 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, York graduates have an estimated $187 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Altoona graduates ($90 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Altoona graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former York students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 47%)

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.