Penn State Altoona vs. Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Altoona in Altoona, PA with Oregon State University Cascades Campus in Bend, OR on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Altoona is larger than Oregon State University-Cascades Campus based on total student enrollment (2,371 students vs. 1,296 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Altoona is located in Altoona, PA (Small City setting); Oregon State University Cascades Campus is in Bend, OR (Small City setting).
• Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Oregon State University Cascades Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Altoona 13:1; Oregon State University Cascades Campus 9:1.

Penn State Altoona vs. Oregon State University-Cascades Campus Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Altoona or Oregon State University-Cascades Campus? 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 Oregon State University Cascades Campus than Penn State Altoona ($19,772 vs. $21,618).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 11.7% lower than at Oregon State University Cascades Campus ($14,474 vs. $16,386).
• Penn State Altoona is 17.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Oregon State University-Cascades Campus (about $2,406 more per year; $15,972.00 vs. $13,566.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 38.6% higher at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus than at Penn State Altoona (about $10,398 more per year; $37,356.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Oregon State University Cascades Campus than at Penn State Altoona (89% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Altoona students is 0.4% larger than aid received by Oregon State University Cascades Campus students ($11,088 vs. $11,046).

Penn State Altoona vs. Oregon State University-Cascades Campus Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Altoona or Oregon State University-Cascades Campus? 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 Oregon State University-Cascades Campus and Penn State Altoona.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Oregon State University Cascades Campus (1230) is 50 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (1180).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Altoona 1070/1290; Oregon State University Cascades Campus 1143/1318.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Altoona 22/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Altoona - Test optional; Oregon State University-Cascades Campus - Test optional.
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Oregon State University-Cascades Campus (63.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.3% at Penn State Altoona vs. 13.8% at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus.

Penn State Altoona vs. Oregon State University-Cascades Campus Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Altoona and Oregon State University-Cascades Campus? 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).

• Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than Oregon State University-Cascades Campus graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $53,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Oregon State University Cascades Campus graduates have a $3,318 lower median loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates ($23,500 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Oregon State University-Cascades Campus graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Altoona graduates ($242 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Altoona graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Oregon State University-Cascades Campus students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 66%)

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.