EC vs. Penn State Altoona

Comparable Facts

Compare Elmira College in Elmira, NY 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 EC based on total student enrollment (2,371 students vs. 786 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Elmira College is located in Elmira, NY (Small City setting); Penn State Altoona is in Altoona, PA (Small City setting).
• Elmira College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Elmira College 11:1; Penn State Altoona 13:1.

EC vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, EC 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 EC ($21,618 vs. $23,682).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 0.5% lower than at Elmira College ($14,474 vs. $14,550).
• Elmira College is 144% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Altoona (about $23,004 more per year; $38,976.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 44.6% higher at EC than at Penn State Altoona (about $12,018 more per year; $38,976.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Elmira College than at Penn State Altoona (100% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Elmira College students is 159.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Altoona students ($28,780 vs. $11,088).

EC vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, EC 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 EC.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Elmira College (1240) is 60 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (1180).
• Incoming EC students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 25 at Penn State Altoona).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elmira College 1090/1385; Penn State Altoona 1070/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elmira College 26/29; Penn State Altoona 22/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: EC - Test optional; Penn State Altoona - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Altoona students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at EC (3.22).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than EC (77%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at EC vs. 10.3% at Penn State Altoona.

EC vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for EC 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 Elmira College's (60%).
• Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn a median of about $9,300 more per year than EC graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $46,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Altoona graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than EC graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Altoona graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than EC graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More EC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Altoona students, three years after graduation. (72% 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.