Nichols vs. Penn State Mont Alto

Comparable Facts

Compare Nichols College in Dudley, MA with Penn State Mont Alto in Mont Alto, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Nichols College is larger than Penn State Mont Alto based on total student enrollment (1,392 students vs. 582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Nichols College is located in Dudley, MA (Rural Fringe setting); Penn State Mont Alto is in Mont Alto, PA (Distant Town setting).
• Nichols College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Mont Alto is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Nichols College 15:1; Penn State Mont Alto 10:1.

Nichols vs. Penn State Mont Alto Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Nichols or Penn State Mont Alto? 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 Mont Alto than Nichols ($19,675 vs. $32,337).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Mont Alto are 8.4% lower than at Nichols College ($14,474 vs. $15,800).
• Nichols College is 196.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Mont Alto (about $28,297 more per year; $42,705.00 vs. $14,408.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 76.9% higher at Nichols than at Penn State Mont Alto (about $18,571 more per year; $42,705.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Nichols College than at Penn State Mont Alto (99% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Nichols College students is 155.4% larger than aid received by Penn State Mont Alto students ($25,809 vs. $10,106).

Nichols vs. Penn State Mont Alto Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Nichols or Penn State Mont Alto? 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 Mont Alto and Nichols.

• Nichols College reports an open admissions policy.
• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Mont Alto (1140) is 10 points higher than at Nichols (1130).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Nichols College 1028/1236; Penn State Mont Alto 980/1300.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Nichols - Open admission; Penn State Mont Alto - Test optional.
• Penn State Mont Alto has a higher acceptance rate (98.2%) than Nichols (80.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.1% at Nichols vs. 24.4% at Penn State Mont Alto.

Nichols vs. Penn State Mont Alto Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Nichols and Penn State Mont Alto? 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 Mont Alto's six-year graduation rate (52%) is higher than Nichols College's (43%).
• Graduates from Penn State Mont Alto earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than Nichols graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $51,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Mont Alto graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Nichols graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Mont Alto graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Nichols graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Penn State Mont Alto graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Nichols students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 68%)

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.