Dickinson College vs. Penn State Mont Alto

Comparable Facts

Compare Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA with Penn State Mont Alto in Mont Alto, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Dickinson College is larger than Penn State Mont Alto based on total student enrollment (2,314 students vs. 582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Dickinson College is located in Carlisle, PA (Distant Town setting); Penn State Mont Alto is in Mont Alto, PA (Distant Town setting).
• Dickinson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Mont Alto is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Dickinson College 11:1; Penn State Mont Alto 10:1.

Dickinson College vs. Penn State Mont Alto Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dickinson College or Penn State Mont Alto? 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 Mont Alto than Dickinson College ($19,675 vs. $38,483).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Mont Alto are 15.4% lower than at Dickinson College ($14,474 vs. $17,100).
• Dickinson College is 355.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Mont Alto (about $51,242 more per year; $65,650.00 vs. $14,408.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 172% higher at Dickinson College than at Penn State Mont Alto (about $41,516 more per year; $65,650.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dickinson College than at Penn State Mont Alto (96% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dickinson College students is 340.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Mont Alto students ($44,479 vs. $10,106).

Dickinson College vs. Penn State Mont Alto Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Dickinson College or Penn State Mont Alto? 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 Mont Alto and Dickinson College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Dickinson College (1390) is 250 points higher than at Penn State Mont Alto (1140).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dickinson College 1310/1460; Penn State Mont Alto 980/1300.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dickinson College 30/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dickinson College - Test optional; Penn State Mont Alto - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dickinson College Jan 15, 2027.
• Penn State Mont Alto has a higher acceptance rate (98.2%) than Dickinson College (42.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at Dickinson College vs. 24.4% at Penn State Mont Alto.

Dickinson College vs. Penn State Mont Alto Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dickinson College and Penn State Mont Alto? 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).

• Dickinson College's six-year graduation rate (84%) is higher than Penn State Mont Alto's (52%).
• Graduates from Dickinson College earn a median of about $6,700 more per year than Penn State Mont Alto graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,000 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dickinson College graduates have a $5,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Mont Alto graduates ($21,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Dickinson College graduates have an estimated $60 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Mont Alto graduates ($217 vs. $277).
• More Dickinson College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Mont Alto students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 69%)

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.