Haverford College vs. Penn State Altoona

Comparable Facts

Compare Haverford College in Haverford, 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 Haverford College based on total student enrollment (2,371 students vs. 1,431 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Haverford College is located in Haverford, PA (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Altoona is in Altoona, PA (Small City setting).
• Haverford College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Haverford College 8:1; Penn State Altoona 13:1.

Haverford College vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Haverford 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 Haverford College ($21,618 vs. $26,535).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 26% lower than at Haverford College ($14,474 vs. $19,548).
• Haverford College is 342.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Altoona (about $54,716 more per year; $70,688.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 162.2% higher at Haverford College than at Penn State Altoona (about $43,730 more per year; $70,688.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Altoona than at Haverford College (78% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Haverford College students is 474.9% larger than aid received by Penn State Altoona students ($63,742 vs. $11,088).

Haverford College vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Haverford College (1510) is 330 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (1180).
• Incoming Haverford College students have a 9 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 25 at Penn State Altoona).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Haverford College 1460/1550; Penn State Altoona 1070/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Haverford College 33/35; Penn State Altoona 22/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Haverford College - Test optional; Penn State Altoona - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Haverford College Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Haverford College students have a 0.5 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Haverford College (12.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 42.6% at Haverford College vs. 10.3% at Penn State Altoona.

Haverford College vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Haverford 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).

• Haverford College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Penn State Altoona's (65%).
• Graduates from Haverford College earn a median of about $13,500 more per year than Penn State Altoona graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,800 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Haverford College graduates have a $13,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates ($13,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Haverford College graduates have an estimated $143 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Altoona graduates ($134 vs. $277).
• More Haverford College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Altoona students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.