Hobart William Smith Colleges vs. Penn State Altoona

Comparable Facts

Compare Hobart William Smith Colleges in Geneva, 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 Hobart William Smith Colleges based on total student enrollment (2,371 students vs. 1,841 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Hobart William Smith Colleges is located in Geneva, NY (Distant Town setting); Penn State Altoona is in Altoona, PA (Small City setting).
• Hobart William Smith Colleges is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Hobart William Smith Colleges 11:1; Penn State Altoona 13:1.

Hobart William Smith Colleges vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hobart William Smith Colleges 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 Hobart William Smith Colleges ($21,618 vs. $34,170).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 18.5% lower than at Hobart William Smith Colleges ($14,474 vs. $17,768).
• Hobart William Smith Colleges is 307.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Altoona (about $49,145 more per year; $65,117.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 141.5% higher at Hobart William Smith Colleges than at Penn State Altoona (about $38,159 more per year; $65,117.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hobart William Smith Colleges than at Penn State Altoona (100% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Hobart William Smith Colleges students is 336.8% larger than aid received by Penn State Altoona students ($48,432 vs. $11,088).

Hobart William Smith Colleges vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Hobart William Smith Colleges 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 Hobart William Smith Colleges.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Hobart William Smith Colleges (1290) is 110 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (1180).
• Incoming Hobart William Smith Colleges students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 25 at Penn State Altoona).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Hobart William Smith Colleges 1190/1385; Penn State Altoona 1070/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Hobart William Smith Colleges 28/32; Penn State Altoona 22/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Hobart William Smith Colleges - Test optional; Penn State Altoona - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Hobart William Smith Colleges Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Hobart William Smith Colleges students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Hobart William Smith Colleges (64%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.6% at Hobart William Smith Colleges vs. 10.3% at Penn State Altoona.

Hobart William Smith Colleges vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hobart William Smith Colleges 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).

• Hobart William Smith Colleges's six-year graduation rate (75%) is higher than Penn State Altoona's (65%).
• Graduates from Hobart William Smith Colleges earn a median of about $4,900 more per year than Penn State Altoona graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,200 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Altoona graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Hobart William Smith Colleges graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Altoona graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Hobart William Smith Colleges graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Hobart William Smith Colleges graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Altoona students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.