Niagara University vs. Penn State Altoona

Should I go to Niagara University or Penn State Altoona? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Niagara University 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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Niagara University vs. Penn State Altoona comparison
Niagara University Penn State Altoona College 3 College 4
Niagara University
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Overview

Niagara University Penn State Altoona
Location Niagara University, NY Altoona, PA
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 3,858 2,577
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #487 #584
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website niagara.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Niagara University Penn State Altoona
Tuition (In State) $35,400 $15,388
Tuition (Out of State) $35,400 $25,854
Room & Board $12,700 $12,984
Avg Net Price $18,165 $20,621
Avg Grant Aid $29,898 $9,574
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 68%

Admission

Niagara University Penn State Altoona
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,836 7,523
Admitted 3,435 7,204
Acceptance Rate 89.5% 95.8%
Enrolled % 15.9% 12.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.53 3.4
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 24/28 21/28
SAT Range 1030/1240 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 Aug 30, 2025

Academics

Niagara University Penn State Altoona
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (35%)
  • Business (29%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)
  • Biology (4%)
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

Niagara University Penn State Altoona
Graduation Rate 65% 65%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,100 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 72% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $258 $277

Diversity

Niagara University Penn State Altoona
% Men 35% 53%
% Women 65% 47%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 68% 77%
% Black 5% 7%
% Hispanic 4% 6%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 13% 5%
% Unknown Race 5% 1%

Students

Niagara University Penn State Altoona
% In-State 81% 59%
% Out-of-State 10% 35%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Niagara University is larger than than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (3,858 students vs. 2,577 students)

Niagara University vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Niagara University or Penn State Altoona?

  • Niagara University is 130% more expensive to attend than Penn State Altoona for in-state tuition ($35,400.00 vs. $15,388.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 36.9% higher at Niagara University than Penn State Altoona ($35,400.00 vs. $25,854.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Niagara University than Penn State Altoona ($18,165 vs. $20,621)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Niagara University are 2.2% lower than costs at Penn State Altoona ($12,700 vs. $12,984)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Niagara University than Penn State Altoona (100% vs. 68%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Niagara University students is 212.3% larger than aid received Penn State Altoona ($29,898 vs. $9,574)

Niagara University vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Niagara University (1037) is 44 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (993)
  • Incoming Niagara University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Penn State Altoona (22)
  • Accepted freshman Niagara University students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4)
  • Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (95.8%) than Niagara University (89.5%)

Niagara University vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Niagara University 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 Niagara University.

  • The graduation rate at Niagara University is the same as at Penn State Altoona (65% vs. 65%)
  • Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn on average $12,200 more per year than Niagara University graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $43,100)
  • Niagara University students graduate with a $1,818 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($25,000 vs. $26,818)
  • Niagara University graduates are paying $19 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($258 vs. $277)
  • More Niagara University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Altoona students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 69%)

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