Howard vs. Penn State Altoona

Comparable Facts

Compare Howard University in Washington, DC with Penn State Altoona in Altoona, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Howard University is larger than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (14,890 students vs. 2,371 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Howard vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Howard 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 Howard ($21,618 vs. $33,368).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 16.4% lower than at Howard University ($14,474 vs. $17,322).
• Howard University is 124.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Altoona (about $19,838 more per year; $35,810.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 32.8% higher at Howard than at Penn State Altoona (about $8,852 more per year; $35,810.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Howard University than at Penn State Altoona (99% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Howard University students is 91.8% larger than aid received by Penn State Altoona students ($21,262 vs. $11,088).

Howard vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Howard 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 Howard.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Howard University (1210) is 30 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (1180).
• Incoming Howard students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 25) as students at Penn State Altoona (25).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Howard University 1090/1320; Penn State Altoona 1070/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Howard University 22/28; Penn State Altoona 22/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Howard - Test optional; Penn State Altoona - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Howard Feb 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Howard students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Howard (41.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.4% at Howard vs. 10.3% at Penn State Altoona.

Howard vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Howard 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 Howard University's (63%).
• Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than Howard graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $51,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Altoona graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Howard graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Altoona graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Howard graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Penn State Altoona graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Howard students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 33%)

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.