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Furman Wofford College JMU Penn State Berks CofC Davidson UofSC Clemson University of Richmond NC State ASU Penn State Harrisburg| Elon University | Penn State Altoona | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Elon | Penn State Altoona | ||
| Location | Elon, NC | Altoona, PA | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 7,207 | 2,421 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #134 | #618 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | elon.edu | psu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Elon | Penn State Altoona | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $44,029 | $15,388 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $44,029 | $26,112 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,478 | $13,820 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $41,849 | $22,506 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $17,523 | $8,730 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 69% | 64% |
Admission |
Elon | Penn State Altoona | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 18,791 | 7,134 | ||
| Admitted | 12,649 | 6,942 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 67.3% | 97.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.3% | 12.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.65 | 3.4 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 23/28 | 22/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1143/1305 | 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 | Jan 10, 2026 |
Academics |
Elon | Penn State Altoona | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Elon | Penn State Altoona | ||
| Graduation Rate | 82% | 65% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $56,200 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 86% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,250 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $240 | $277 |
Diversity |
Elon | Penn State Altoona | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 0% | ||
| % Women | 7% | 0% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 2% | ||
| % International | 2% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
Elon | Penn State Altoona | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 18% | 59% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 80% | 35% | ||
Campus |
Elon | 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
- Elon University is larger than than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (7,207 students vs. 2,421 students)
Elon vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Elon or Penn State Altoona?
- Elon University is 186.1% more expensive to attend than Penn State Altoona for in-state tuition ($44,029.00 vs. $15,388.00)
- Out of state tuition is 68.6% higher at Elon than Penn State Altoona ($44,029.00 vs. $26,112.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Altoona than Elon ($22,506 vs. $41,849)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 4.8% lower than costs at Elon University ($13,820 vs. $14,478)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Elon University than Penn State Altoona (69% vs. 64%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Elon University students is 100.7% larger than aid received Penn State Altoona ($17,523 vs. $8,730)
Elon vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Elon 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 Elon .
- The average SAT score at Elon University (1211) is 218 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (993)
- Incoming Elon students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Penn State Altoona (22)
- Accepted freshman Elon students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4)
- Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (97.3%) than Elon (67.3%)
Elon vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Elon 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 Elon.
- The graduation rate at Elon is higher than Penn State Altoona (82% vs. 65%)
- Graduates from Elon University earn on average $900 more per year than Penn State Altoona graduates after ten years. ($56,200 vs. $55,300)
- Elon University students graduate with a $3,568 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($23,250 vs. $26,818)
- Elon graduates are paying $37 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($240 vs. $277)
- More Elon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Altoona students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/