Drew University vs. Penn State Altoona

Should I go to Drew University or Penn State Altoona? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Drew University or Penn State Altoona is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Drew University vs. Penn State Altoona comparison
Drew University Penn State Altoona College 3 College 4
Drew University
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Overview

Drew University Penn State Altoona
Location Madison, NJ Altoona, PA
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 2,226 2,421
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #327 #618
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website drew.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Drew University Penn State Altoona
Tuition (In State) $44,260 $15,388
Tuition (Out of State) $44,260 $26,112
Room & Board $17,640 $13,820
Avg Net Price $28,193 $22,506
Avg Grant Aid $33,097 $8,730
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 64%

Admission

Drew University Penn State Altoona
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,604 7,134
Admitted 3,197 6,942
Acceptance Rate 69.4% 97.3%
Enrolled % 12.6% 12.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.1 3.4
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 25/31 22/27
SAT Range 1110/1320 1050/1260
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2025

Academics

Drew University Penn State Altoona
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (30%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (15%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

Drew University Penn State Altoona
Graduation Rate 68% 65%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $55,500 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 70% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $279 $277

Diversity

Drew University Penn State Altoona
% Men 13% 0%
% Women 14% 0%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 56% 77%
% Black 10% 7%
% Hispanic 10% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 5% 5%
% Unknown Race 9% 1%

Students

Drew University Penn State Altoona
% In-State 65% 59%
% Out-of-State 28% 35%

Campus

Drew University Penn State Altoona
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Penn State Altoona is larger than than Drew University based on total student enrollment (2,421 students vs. 2,226 students)

Drew University vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Drew University or Penn State Altoona?

  • Drew University is 187.6% more expensive to attend than Penn State Altoona for in-state tuition ($44,260.00 vs. $15,388.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 69.5% higher at Drew University than Penn State Altoona ($44,260.00 vs. $26,112.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Altoona than Drew University ($22,506 vs. $28,193)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 27.6% lower than costs at Drew University ($13,820 vs. $17,640)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Drew University than Penn State Altoona (98% vs. 64%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Drew University students is 279.1% larger than aid received Penn State Altoona ($33,097 vs. $8,730)

Drew University vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Drew University or Penn State Altoona? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State Altoona or Drew University .

  • Accepted freshman Penn State Altoona students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at Drew University (3.1)
  • Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (97.3%) than Drew University (69.4%)

Drew University vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Drew University or Penn State Altoona? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Penn State Altoona and Drew University.

  • The graduation rate at Drew University is higher than Penn State Altoona (68% vs. 65%)
  • Graduates from Drew University earn on average $200 more per year than Penn State Altoona graduates after ten years. ($55,500 vs. $55,300)
  • Penn State Altoona students graduate with a $182 lower median federal student loan debt than Drew University graduates. ($26,818 vs. $27,000)
  • Penn State Altoona graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Drew University graduates. ($277 vs. $279)
  • More Drew University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Altoona students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/