Penn State Altoona vs. Saint Vincent College

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Altoona in Altoona, PA with Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Altoona is larger than Saint Vincent College based on total student enrollment (2,371 students vs. 1,440 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Altoona is located in Altoona, PA (Small City setting); Saint Vincent College is in Latrobe, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Saint Vincent College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Altoona 13:1; Saint Vincent College 11:1.

Penn State Altoona vs. Saint Vincent College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Altoona or Saint Vincent College? 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 Vincent College ($21,618 vs. $23,758).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Vincent College are 2.1% lower than at Penn State Altoona ($14,172 vs. $14,474).
• Saint Vincent College is 165.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Altoona (about $26,424 more per year; $42,396.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 57.3% higher at Saint Vincent College than at Penn State Altoona (about $15,438 more per year; $42,396.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Vincent College than at Penn State Altoona (100% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Vincent College students is 198.7% larger than aid received by Penn State Altoona students ($33,117 vs. $11,088).

Penn State Altoona vs. Saint Vincent College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Altoona or Saint Vincent College? 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 Vincent College and Penn State Altoona.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Altoona (1180) is 50 points higher than at Saint Vincent College (1130).
• Incoming Penn State Altoona students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 23 at Saint Vincent College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Altoona 1070/1290; Saint Vincent College 1020/1230.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Altoona 22/28; Saint Vincent College 20/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Altoona - Test optional; Saint Vincent College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Saint Vincent College May 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Saint Vincent College students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Saint Vincent College (61.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.3% at Penn State Altoona vs. 20.4% at Saint Vincent College.

Penn State Altoona vs. Saint Vincent College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Altoona and Saint Vincent College? 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 Vincent College's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than Penn State Altoona's (65%).
• Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn a median of about $5,700 more per year than Saint Vincent College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $49,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Altoona graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Saint Vincent College graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Altoona graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saint Vincent College graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Saint Vincent College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Altoona students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.