Penn State Altoona vs. Coastal Carolina

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Altoona in Altoona, PA with Coastal Carolina University in Conway, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Coastal Carolina University is larger than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (11,348 students vs. 2,371 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Altoona is located in Altoona, PA (Small City setting); Coastal Carolina University is in Conway, SC (Small City setting).
• Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Coastal Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Altoona 13:1; Coastal Carolina University 17:1.

Penn State Altoona vs. Coastal Carolina Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Altoona or Coastal Carolina? 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 Coastal Carolina University than Penn State Altoona ($14,379 vs. $21,618).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Coastal Carolina University are 16.1% lower than at Penn State Altoona ($12,146 vs. $14,474).
• Penn State Altoona is 37.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Coastal Carolina (about $4,332 more per year; $15,972.00 vs. $11,640.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.9% higher at Coastal Carolina than at Penn State Altoona (about $2,670 more per year; $29,628.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Coastal Carolina University than at Penn State Altoona (94% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Altoona students is 9.9% larger than aid received by Coastal Carolina University students ($11,088 vs. $10,087).

Penn State Altoona vs. Coastal Carolina Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Altoona or Coastal Carolina? 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 Coastal Carolina and Penn State Altoona.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Altoona (1180) is 40 points higher than at Coastal Carolina (1140).
• Incoming Penn State Altoona students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 23 at Coastal Carolina).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Altoona 1070/1290; Coastal Carolina University 1050/1220.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Altoona 22/28; Coastal Carolina University 21/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Altoona - Test optional; Coastal Carolina - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Coastal Carolina students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Coastal Carolina (75.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.3% at Penn State Altoona vs. 16.9% at Coastal Carolina.

Penn State Altoona vs. Coastal Carolina Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Altoona and Coastal Carolina? 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 Altoona's six-year graduation rate (65%) is higher than Coastal Carolina University's (46%).
• Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn a median of about $13,100 more per year than Coastal Carolina graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $42,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Coastal Carolina University graduates have a $1,888 lower median loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates ($24,930 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Coastal Carolina graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Altoona graduates ($257 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Altoona graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Coastal Carolina students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 54%)

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.