FDU vs. Penn State Altoona

Comparable Facts

Compare Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus in Madison, NJ with Penn State Altoona in Altoona, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus is larger than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (2,885 students vs. 2,371 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus is located in Madison, NJ (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Altoona is in Altoona, PA (Small City setting).
• Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus 11:1; Penn State Altoona 13:1.

FDU vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, FDU 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 FDU ($21,618 vs. $25,585).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 11% lower than at Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus ($14,474 vs. $16,270).
• Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus is 137.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Altoona (about $22,032 more per year; $38,004.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 41% higher at FDU than at Penn State Altoona (about $11,046 more per year; $38,004.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus than at Penn State Altoona (100% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus students is 155.2% larger than aid received by Penn State Altoona students ($28,294 vs. $11,088).

FDU vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, FDU 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 FDU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus (1180) is the same as at Penn State Altoona (1180).
• Incoming Penn State Altoona students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 24 at FDU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus 1040/1310; Penn State Altoona 1070/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus 19/30; Penn State Altoona 22/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: FDU - Test optional; Penn State Altoona - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman FDU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than FDU (95.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.5% at FDU vs. 10.3% at Penn State Altoona.

FDU vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for FDU 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 Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus's (55%).
• Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn a median of about $2,400 more per year than FDU graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $52,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus graduates have a $818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, FDU graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Altoona graduates ($268 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Altoona graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FDU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 60%)

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.