ECU vs. Penn State Altoona

Comparable Facts

Compare East Carolina University in Greenville, NC with Penn State Altoona in Altoona, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

East Carolina University is larger than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (26,940 students vs. 2,371 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• East Carolina University is located in Greenville, NC (Small City setting); Penn State Altoona is in Altoona, PA (Small City setting).
• East Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: East Carolina University 17:1; Penn State Altoona 13:1.

ECU vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECU 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 East Carolina University than Penn State Altoona ($13,755 vs. $21,618).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Carolina University are 20.3% lower than at Penn State Altoona ($11,541 vs. $14,474).
• Penn State Altoona is 117% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECU (about $8,611 more per year; $15,972.00 vs. $7,361.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14% higher at Penn State Altoona than at East Carolina University (about $3,320 more per year; $26,958.00 vs. $23,638.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Altoona than at East Carolina University (78% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Altoona students is 13.4% larger than aid received by East Carolina University students ($11,088 vs. $9,776).

ECU vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ECU 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 ECU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Altoona (1180) is 20 points higher than at ECU (1160).
• Incoming Penn State Altoona students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 23 at ECU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: East Carolina University 1070/1240; Penn State Altoona 1070/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: East Carolina University 21/26; Penn State Altoona 22/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ECU - Test optional; Penn State Altoona - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Altoona students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at ECU (3.33).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than ECU (89.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at ECU vs. 10.3% at Penn State Altoona.

ECU vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECU 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 East Carolina University's (59%).
• Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn a median of about $11,400 more per year than ECU graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, East Carolina University graduates have a $2,030 lower median loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates ($24,788 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, ECU graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Altoona graduates ($256 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Altoona graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ECU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 63%)

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.