Juniata College vs. Penn State Altoona

Comparable Facts

Compare Juniata College in Huntingdon, 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 Juniata College based on total student enrollment (2,371 students vs. 1,321 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Juniata College is located in Huntingdon, PA (Distant Town setting); Penn State Altoona is in Altoona, PA (Small City setting).
• Juniata College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Juniata College 11:1; Penn State Altoona 13:1.

Juniata College vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Juniata 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 Juniata College ($21,618 vs. $24,580).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Juniata College are 2.6% lower than at Penn State Altoona ($14,100 vs. $14,474).
• Juniata College is 266.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Altoona (about $42,608 more per year; $58,580.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 117.3% higher at Juniata College than at Penn State Altoona (about $31,622 more per year; $58,580.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Juniata College than at Penn State Altoona (100% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Juniata College students is 325.2% larger than aid received by Penn State Altoona students ($47,144 vs. $11,088).

Juniata College vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Juniata College (1230) is 50 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (1180).
• Incoming Juniata College students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 25 at Penn State Altoona).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Juniata College 1130/1320; Penn State Altoona 1070/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Juniata College 22/30; Penn State Altoona 22/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Juniata College - Test optional; Penn State Altoona - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Juniata College Mar 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Juniata College students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Juniata College (78.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at Juniata College vs. 10.3% at Penn State Altoona.

Juniata College vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Juniata 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).

• Juniata College's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than Penn State Altoona's (65%).
• Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn a median of about $2,200 more per year than Juniata College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $53,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Altoona graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Juniata College graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Altoona graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Juniata College graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Juniata College 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.