Muhlenberg College vs. Penn State Altoona

Should I go to Muhlenberg College or Penn State Altoona? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Muhlenberg College or Penn State Altoona is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Muhlenberg College vs. Penn State Altoona comparison
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Muhlenberg College
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Overview

Muhlenberg College Penn State Altoona
Location Allentown, PA Altoona, PA
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 1,959 2,577
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #88 #584
Religious Affiliation Evangelical Lutheran Church - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website muhlenberg.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Muhlenberg College Penn State Altoona
Tuition (In State) $57,270 $15,388
Tuition (Out of State) $57,270 $25,854
Room & Board $13,440 $12,984
Avg Net Price $32,926 $20,621
Avg Grant Aid $38,412 $9,574
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 68%

Admission

Muhlenberg College Penn State Altoona
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,329 7,523
Admitted 2,836 7,204
Acceptance Rate 65.5% 95.8%
Enrolled % 14.8% 12.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.44 3.4
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very High Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 29/33 21/28
SAT Range 1200/1400 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 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

Muhlenberg College Penn State Altoona
Student to Faculty Ratio 8:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (24%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

Muhlenberg College Penn State Altoona
Graduation Rate 86% 65%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $63,700 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 84% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,490 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $273 $277

Diversity

Muhlenberg College Penn State Altoona
% Men 39% 53%
% Women 61% 47%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 75% 77%
% Black 3% 7%
% Hispanic 7% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 3% 5%
% Unknown Race 8% 1%

Students

Muhlenberg College Penn State Altoona
% In-State 31% 59%
% Out-of-State 68% 35%

Campus

Muhlenberg College Penn State Altoona
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Penn State Altoona is larger than than Muhlenberg College based on total student enrollment (2,577 students vs. 1,959 students)

Muhlenberg College vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Muhlenberg College or Penn State Altoona?

  • Muhlenberg College is 272.2% more expensive to attend than Penn State Altoona for in-state tuition ($57,270.00 vs. $15,388.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 121.5% higher at Muhlenberg College than Penn State Altoona ($57,270.00 vs. $25,854.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Altoona than Muhlenberg College ($20,621 vs. $32,926)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 3.5% lower than costs at Muhlenberg College ($12,984 vs. $13,440)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Muhlenberg College than Penn State Altoona (98% vs. 68%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Muhlenberg College students is 301.2% larger than aid received Penn State Altoona ($38,412 vs. $9,574)

Muhlenberg College vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Muhlenberg 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 Muhlenberg College .

  • Accepted freshman Muhlenberg College students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.44) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4)
  • Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (95.8%) than Muhlenberg College (65.5%)

Muhlenberg College vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Muhlenberg 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 Muhlenberg College.

  • The graduation rate at Muhlenberg College is higher than Penn State Altoona (86% vs. 65%)
  • Graduates from Muhlenberg College earn on average $8,400 more per year than Penn State Altoona graduates after ten years. ($63,700 vs. $55,300)
  • Muhlenberg College students graduate with a $328 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($26,490 vs. $26,818)
  • Muhlenberg College graduates are paying $4 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($273 vs. $277)
  • More Muhlenberg College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Altoona students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/