Elizabethtown College vs. Penn State Altoona

Comparable Facts

Compare Elizabethtown College in Elizabethtown, PA with Penn State Altoona in Altoona, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Altoona is larger than Elizabethtown College based on total student enrollment (2,371 students vs. 2,283 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Elizabethtown College is located in Elizabethtown, PA (Town Fringe setting); Penn State Altoona is in Altoona, PA (Small City setting).
• Elizabethtown College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Elizabethtown College 13:1; Penn State Altoona 13:1.

Elizabethtown College vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elizabethtown College 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 Penn State Altoona than Elizabethtown College ($21,618 vs. $27,760).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elizabethtown College are 7.8% lower than at Penn State Altoona ($13,340 vs. $14,474).
• Elizabethtown College is 137.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Altoona (about $21,978 more per year; $37,950.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 40.8% higher at Elizabethtown College than at Penn State Altoona (about $10,992 more per year; $37,950.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Elizabethtown College than at Penn State Altoona (100% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Elizabethtown College students is 108% larger than aid received by Penn State Altoona students ($23,064 vs. $11,088).

Elizabethtown College vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Elizabethtown College 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 Elizabethtown College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Elizabethtown College (1210) is 30 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (1180).
• Incoming Elizabethtown College students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 25 at Penn State Altoona).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elizabethtown College 1105/1310; Penn State Altoona 1070/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elizabethtown College 26/31; Penn State Altoona 22/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Elizabethtown College - Test optional; Penn State Altoona - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Elizabethtown College students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Elizabethtown College (77.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.6% at Elizabethtown College vs. 10.3% at Penn State Altoona.

Elizabethtown College vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Elizabethtown College 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).

• Elizabethtown College's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than Penn State Altoona's (65%).
• Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than Elizabethtown College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $51,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Altoona graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Elizabethtown College graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Altoona graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Elizabethtown College graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Elizabethtown College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Altoona students, three years after graduation. (83% 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.