Miami vs. Penn State Altoona

Comparable Facts

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

Miami University Oxford is larger than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (18,838 students vs. 2,371 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Miami University Oxford is located in Oxford, OH (Distant Town setting); Penn State Altoona is in Altoona, PA (Small City setting).
• Miami University Oxford is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Miami University Oxford 16:1; Penn State Altoona 13:1.

Miami vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Miami 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 Miami ($21,618 vs. $28,229).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 13.6% lower than at Miami University Oxford ($14,474 vs. $16,750).
• Miami University Oxford is 13.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Altoona (about $2,189 more per year; $18,161.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 52.9% higher at Miami than at Penn State Altoona (about $14,263 more per year; $41,221.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Miami University Oxford than at Penn State Altoona (93% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Miami University Oxford students is 25.7% larger than aid received by Penn State Altoona students ($13,937 vs. $11,088).

Miami vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Miami 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 Miami.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Miami University Oxford (1310) is 130 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (1180).
• Incoming Miami students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 25 at Penn State Altoona).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Miami University Oxford 1220/1390; Penn State Altoona 1070/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Miami University Oxford 25/30; Penn State Altoona 22/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Miami - Test optional; Penn State Altoona - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Miami Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Miami students have a 0.45 point higher average high school GPA (3.85) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Miami (75.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14% at Miami vs. 10.3% at Penn State Altoona.

Miami vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Miami 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).

• Miami University Oxford's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than Penn State Altoona's (65%).
• Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn a median of about $1,000 more per year than Miami graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $54,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Miami University Oxford graduates have a $2,068 lower median loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates ($24,750 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Miami graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Altoona graduates ($255 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Altoona graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Miami 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.