Lancaster Bible College vs. Penn State Altoona

Comparable Facts

Compare Lancaster Bible College in Lancaster, PA with Penn State Altoona in Altoona, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Lancaster Bible College is larger than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (2,519 students vs. 2,371 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lancaster Bible College is located in Lancaster, PA (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Altoona is in Altoona, PA (Small City setting).
• Lancaster Bible College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lancaster Bible College 19:1; Penn State Altoona 13:1.

Lancaster Bible College vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lancaster Bible 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 Lancaster Bible College ($21,618 vs. $25,940).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lancaster Bible College are 15.6% lower than at Penn State Altoona ($12,221 vs. $14,474).
• Lancaster Bible College is 87.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Altoona (about $14,018 more per year; $29,990.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.2% higher at Lancaster Bible College than at Penn State Altoona (about $3,032 more per year; $29,990.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lancaster Bible College than at Penn State Altoona (100% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lancaster Bible College students is 60.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Altoona students ($17,797 vs. $11,088).

Lancaster Bible College vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lancaster Bible 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 Lancaster Bible College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lancaster Bible College (1180) is the same as at Penn State Altoona (1180).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lancaster Bible College 1070/1280; 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: Lancaster Bible College - Test optional; Penn State Altoona - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Altoona students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at Lancaster Bible College (3.31).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Lancaster Bible College (55.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 33.7% at Lancaster Bible College vs. 10.3% at Penn State Altoona.

Lancaster Bible College vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lancaster Bible 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 Lancaster Bible College's (49%).
• Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn a median of about $20,400 more per year than Lancaster Bible College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $34,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lancaster Bible College graduates have a $10,152 lower median loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates ($16,666 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Lancaster Bible College graduates have an estimated $105 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Altoona graduates ($172 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Altoona graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lancaster Bible College students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 67%)

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.