Eastern University vs. Penn State Altoona

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

 Eastern University Penn State Altoona
Location Saint Davids, PA Altoona, PA
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 5,769 2,577
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #680 #584
Religious Affiliation American Baptist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website eastern.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Eastern University Penn State Altoona
Tuition (In State) $35,864 $15,388
Tuition (Out of State) $35,864 $25,854
Room & Board $12,424 $12,984
Avg Net Price $26,669 $20,621
Avg Grant Aid $25,542 $9,574
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 68%

Admission

 Eastern University Penn State Altoona
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,994 7,523
Admitted 1,893 7,204
Acceptance Rate 63.2% 95.8%
Enrolled % 24.5% 12.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.58 3.4
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/24 21/28
SAT Range 1010/1190 1050/1250
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

 Eastern University Penn State Altoona
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (24%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (8%)
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

 Eastern University Penn State Altoona
Graduation Rate 67% 65%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,900 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 58% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,500 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $274 $277

Diversity

 Eastern University Penn State Altoona
% Men 41% 53%
% Women 59% 47%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 50% 77%
% Black 23% 7%
% Hispanic 17% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 2%
% International 2% 5%
% Unknown Race 5% 1%

Students

 Eastern University Penn State Altoona
% In-State 62% 59%
% Out-of-State 38% 35%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Eastern University is larger than than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (5,769 students vs. 2,577 students)

Eastern University vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

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

  • Eastern University is 133.1% more expensive to attend than Penn State Altoona for in-state tuition ($35,864.00 vs. $15,388.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 38.7% higher at Eastern University than Penn State Altoona ($35,864.00 vs. $25,854.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Altoona than Eastern University ($20,621 vs. $26,669)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Eastern University are 4.5% lower than costs at Penn State Altoona ($12,424 vs. $12,984)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Eastern University than Penn State Altoona (100% vs. 68%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern University students is 166.8% larger than aid received Penn State Altoona ($25,542 vs. $9,574)

Eastern University vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Eastern University (1026) is 33 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (993)
  • Incoming Eastern University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Penn State Altoona (22)
  • Accepted freshman Eastern University students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4)
  • Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (95.8%) than Eastern University (63.2%)

Eastern University vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Eastern 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 Eastern University.

  • The graduation rate at Eastern University is higher than Penn State Altoona (67% vs. 65%)
  • Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn on average $9,400 more per year than Eastern University graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $45,900)
  • Eastern University students graduate with a $318 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($26,500 vs. $26,818)
  • Eastern University graduates are paying $3 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($274 vs. $277)
  • More Penn State Altoona graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Eastern University students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 58%)

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