Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Lehigh Bucknell Villanova Fordham Union College Skidmore College Colgate University of Richmond Penn State Berks Trinity College Denison BU| Lafayette College | Penn State Altoona | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
||||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Lafayette College | Penn State Altoona | ||
| Location | Easton, PA | Altoona, PA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 2,729 | 2,577 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #65 | #584 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Presbyterian Church (USA) | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | lafayette.edu | psu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Lafayette College | Penn State Altoona | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $58,110 | $15,388 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $58,110 | $25,854 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,336 | $12,984 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $37,186 | $20,621 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $24,981 | $9,574 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 68% |
Admission |
Lafayette College | Penn State Altoona | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 10,500 | 7,523 | ||
| Admitted | 3,531 | 7,204 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 33.6% | 95.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21.4% | 12.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.53 | 3.4 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | |||
| ACT Range | 30/33 | 21/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1330/1480 | 1050/1250 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Lafayette College | Penn State Altoona | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 12:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Lafayette College | Penn State Altoona | ||
| Graduation Rate | 88% | 65% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $81,000 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 91% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $277 |
Diversity |
Lafayette College | Penn State Altoona | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 50% | 53% | ||
| % Women | 50% | 47% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 67% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 2% | ||
| % International | 9% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 7% | 1% |
Students |
Lafayette College | Penn State Altoona | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 16% | 59% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 76% | 35% | ||
Campus |
Lafayette College | Penn State Altoona | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Lafayette College is larger than than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (2,729 students vs. 2,577 students)
Lafayette College vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Lafayette College or Penn State Altoona?
- Lafayette College is 277.6% more expensive to attend than Penn State Altoona for in-state tuition ($58,110.00 vs. $15,388.00)
- Out of state tuition is 124.8% higher at Lafayette College than Penn State Altoona ($58,110.00 vs. $25,854.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Altoona than Lafayette College ($20,621 vs. $37,186)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 33.5% lower than costs at Lafayette College ($12,984 vs. $17,336)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Lafayette College than Penn State Altoona (98% vs. 68%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Lafayette College students is 160.9% larger than aid received Penn State Altoona ($24,981 vs. $9,574)
Lafayette College vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Lafayette College or Penn State Altoona? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State Altoona or Lafayette College .
- The average SAT score at Lafayette College (1294) is 301 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (993)
- Incoming Lafayette College students have a 7 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Penn State Altoona (22)
- Accepted freshman Lafayette College students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4)
- Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (95.8%) than Lafayette College (33.6%)
Lafayette College vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Lafayette College or Penn State Altoona? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Penn State Altoona and Lafayette College.
- The graduation rate at Lafayette College is higher than Penn State Altoona (88% vs. 65%)
- Graduates from Lafayette College earn on average $25,700 more per year than Penn State Altoona graduates after ten years. ($81,000 vs. $55,300)
- Lafayette College students graduate with a $818 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($26,000 vs. $26,818)
- Lafayette College graduates are paying $9 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($268 vs. $277)
- More Lafayette College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Altoona students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/