Penn State Altoona vs. Saint Joseph's University

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Altoona in Altoona, PA with Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia in Philadelphia, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia is larger than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (7,159 students vs. 2,371 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Altoona is located in Altoona, PA (Small City setting); Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
• Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Altoona 13:1; Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia 11:1.

Penn State Altoona vs. Saint Joseph's University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Altoona or Saint Joseph's University? 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 Altoona than Saint Joseph's University ($21,618 vs. $31,205).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 10.9% lower than at Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia ($14,474 vs. $16,240).
• Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia is 233.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Altoona (about $37,288 more per year; $53,260.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 97.6% higher at Saint Joseph's University than at Penn State Altoona (about $26,302 more per year; $53,260.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia than at Penn State Altoona (100% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia students is 233.4% larger than aid received by Penn State Altoona students ($36,964 vs. $11,088).

Penn State Altoona vs. Saint Joseph's University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Altoona or Saint Joseph's University? 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 Saint Joseph's University and Penn State Altoona.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia (1260) is 80 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (1180).
• Incoming Saint Joseph's University students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 25 at Penn State Altoona).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Altoona 1070/1290; Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia 1170/1350.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Altoona 22/28; Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia 28/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Altoona - Test optional; Saint Joseph's University - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Saint Joseph's University Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Saint Joseph's University students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Saint Joseph's University (88.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.3% at Penn State Altoona vs. 14.1% at Saint Joseph's University.

Penn State Altoona vs. Saint Joseph's University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Altoona and Saint Joseph's University? 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).

• Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than Penn State Altoona's (65%).
• Graduates from Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia earn a median of about $8,700 more per year than Penn State Altoona graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,000 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia graduates have a $3,810 lower median loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates ($23,008 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Saint Joseph's University graduates have an estimated $40 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Altoona graduates ($237 vs. $277).
• More Saint Joseph's University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Altoona students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 69%)

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.