Marywood vs. Penn State Altoona

Comparable Facts

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

Marywood University is larger than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (2,530 students vs. 2,371 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Marywood vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Marywood 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 Marywood ($21,618 vs. $26,217).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 8.4% lower than at Marywood University ($14,474 vs. $15,800).
• Marywood University is 159.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Altoona (about $25,448 more per year; $41,420.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 53.6% higher at Marywood than at Penn State Altoona (about $14,462 more per year; $41,420.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Marywood University than at Penn State Altoona (100% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Marywood University students is 166.7% larger than aid received by Penn State Altoona students ($29,574 vs. $11,088).

Marywood vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Marywood 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 Marywood.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Altoona (1180) is 20 points higher than at Marywood (1160).
• Incoming Penn State Altoona students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 24 at Marywood).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Marywood University 1060/1250; Penn State Altoona 1070/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Marywood University 18/30; Penn State Altoona 22/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Marywood - Test optional; Penn State Altoona - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Marywood students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Marywood (60.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at Marywood vs. 10.3% at Penn State Altoona.

Marywood vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Marywood 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 Marywood University's (62%).
• Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn a median of about $14,200 more per year than Marywood graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $41,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Altoona graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Marywood graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Altoona graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Marywood graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Marywood graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Altoona students, three years after graduation. (70% 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.