Messiah University vs. Penn State Altoona

Comparable Facts

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

Messiah University is larger than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (3,373 students vs. 2,371 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Messiah University vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Messiah University 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 Messiah University ($21,618 vs. $29,408).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Messiah University are 9.5% lower than at Penn State Altoona ($13,098 vs. $14,474).
• Messiah University is 164.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Altoona (about $26,268 more per year; $42,240.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 56.7% higher at Messiah University than at Penn State Altoona (about $15,282 more per year; $42,240.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Messiah University than at Penn State Altoona (100% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Messiah University students is 139.7% larger than aid received by Penn State Altoona students ($26,576 vs. $11,088).

Messiah University vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Messiah University 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 Messiah University.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Messiah University (1230) is 50 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (1180).
• Incoming Messiah University students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 25 at Penn State Altoona).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Messiah University 1110/1350; Penn State Altoona 1070/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Messiah University 26/31; Penn State Altoona 22/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Messiah University - Test optional; Penn State Altoona - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Messiah University students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Messiah University (79%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 29.1% at Messiah University vs. 10.3% at Penn State Altoona.

Messiah University vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Messiah University 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).

• Messiah University's six-year graduation rate (74%) is higher than Penn State Altoona's (65%).
• Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn a median of about $6,700 more per year than Messiah University graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $48,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Messiah University graduates have a $829 lower median loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates ($25,989 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Messiah University graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Altoona graduates ($268 vs. $277).
• More Messiah University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Altoona students, three years after graduation. (85% 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.