Keystone College vs. Penn State Altoona

Comparable Facts

Compare Keystone College in La Plume, 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 Keystone College based on total student enrollment (2,371 students vs. 952 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Keystone College is located in La Plume, PA (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Altoona is in Altoona, PA (Small City setting).
• Keystone College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Keystone College 12:1; Penn State Altoona 13:1.

Keystone College vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Keystone 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 Keystone College ($21,618 vs. $21,952).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Keystone College are 12.9% lower than at Penn State Altoona ($12,600 vs. $14,474).
• Keystone College is 14.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Altoona (about $2,328 more per year; $18,300.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 47.3% higher at Penn State Altoona than at Keystone College (about $8,658 more per year; $26,958.00 vs. $18,300.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Keystone College than at Penn State Altoona (84% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Altoona students is 9.6% larger than aid received by Keystone College students ($11,088 vs. $10,119).

Keystone College vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Altoona (1180) is 160 points higher than at Keystone College (1020).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Keystone College 910/1130; Penn State Altoona 1070/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPenn State Altoona 22/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Keystone College - Test optional; Penn State Altoona - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Altoona students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at Keystone College (3.0).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Keystone College (84.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.8% at Keystone College vs. 10.3% at Penn State Altoona.

Keystone College vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Keystone 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).

• Penn State Altoona's six-year graduation rate (65%) is higher than Keystone College's (39%).
• Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn a median of about $21,900 more per year than Keystone College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $33,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Keystone College graduates have a $818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Keystone College 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 Keystone College students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 57%)

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.