Duquesne University vs. Penn State Altoona

Should I go to Duquesne University or Penn State Altoona? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Duquesne 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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Duquesne University vs. Penn State Altoona comparison
Duquesne University Penn State Altoona College 3 College 4
Duquesne University
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Overview

Duquesne University Penn State Altoona
Location Pittsburgh, PA Altoona, PA
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 8,137 2,421
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #191 #618
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website duq.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Duquesne University Penn State Altoona
Tuition (In State) $47,146 $15,388
Tuition (Out of State) $47,146 $26,112
Room & Board $15,620 $13,820
Avg Net Price $35,125 $22,506
Avg Grant Aid $27,980 $8,730
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 64%

Admission

Duquesne University Penn State Altoona
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 14,112 7,134
Admitted 11,128 6,942
Acceptance Rate 78.9% 97.3%
Enrolled % 13.3% 12.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.8 3.4
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 26/31 22/27
SAT Range 1160/1350 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 Aug 15, 2026

Academics

Duquesne University Penn State Altoona
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (31%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

Duquesne University Penn State Altoona
Graduation Rate 73% 65%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $65,100 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $279 $277

Diversity

Duquesne University Penn State Altoona
% Men 13% 0%
% Women 23% 0%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 81% 77%
% Black 5% 7%
% Hispanic 3% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 4% 5%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Duquesne University Penn State Altoona
% In-State 70% 59%
% Out-of-State 27% 35%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Duquesne University is larger than than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (8,137 students vs. 2,421 students)

Duquesne University vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

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

  • Duquesne University is 206.4% more expensive to attend than Penn State Altoona for in-state tuition ($47,146.00 vs. $15,388.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 80.6% higher at Duquesne University than Penn State Altoona ($47,146.00 vs. $26,112.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Altoona than Duquesne University ($22,506 vs. $35,125)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 13% lower than costs at Duquesne University ($13,820 vs. $15,620)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Duquesne University than Penn State Altoona (100% vs. 64%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Duquesne University students is 220.5% larger than aid received Penn State Altoona ($27,980 vs. $8,730)

Duquesne University vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Duquesne 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 Duquesne University .

  • The average SAT score at Duquesne University (1138) is 145 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (993)
  • Incoming Duquesne University students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Penn State Altoona (22)
  • Accepted freshman Duquesne University students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4)
  • Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (97.3%) than Duquesne University (78.9%)

Duquesne University vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Duquesne 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 Duquesne University.

  • The graduation rate at Duquesne University is higher than Penn State Altoona (73% vs. 65%)
  • Graduates from Duquesne University earn on average $9,800 more per year than Penn State Altoona graduates after ten years. ($65,100 vs. $55,300)
  • Penn State Altoona students graduate with a $182 lower median federal student loan debt than Duquesne University graduates. ($26,818 vs. $27,000)
  • Penn State Altoona graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Duquesne University graduates. ($277 vs. $279)
  • More Duquesne University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Altoona students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 69%)

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