Penn State Altoona vs. Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Altoona in Altoona, PA with Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania in Slippery Rock, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is larger than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (8,376 students vs. 2,371 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Altoona is located in Altoona, PA (Small City setting); Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is in Slippery Rock, PA (Distant Town setting).
• Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Altoona 13:1; Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 20:1.

Penn State Altoona vs. Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Altoona or Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania? 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 Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania than Penn State Altoona ($18,252 vs. $21,618).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania are 24.7% lower than at Penn State Altoona ($10,902 vs. $14,474).
• Penn State Altoona is 51.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (about $5,404 more per year; $15,972.00 vs. $10,568.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 83.7% higher at Penn State Altoona than at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (about $12,282 more per year; $26,958.00 vs. $14,676.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Altoona than at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (78% vs. 72%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Altoona students is 61.6% larger than aid received by Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania students ($11,088 vs. $6,862).

Penn State Altoona vs. Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Altoona or Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania and Penn State Altoona.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Penn State Altoona (1180) is 90 points higher than at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (1090).
• Incoming Penn State Altoona students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (25 vs. 22 at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Penn State Altoona 1070/1290; Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 980/1190.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Penn State Altoona 22/28; Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 18/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Altoona - Test optional; Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania - Test optional.
• Enrolled freshman Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (71.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.3% at Penn State Altoona vs. 33.5% at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania.

Penn State Altoona vs. Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Altoona and Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Penn State Altoona's six-year graduation rate (65%) is higher than Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania's (59%).
• Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn a median of about $13,300 more per year than Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $42,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania graduates have a $1,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Altoona graduates ($258 vs. $277).
• More Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Altoona students, three years after graduation. (72% 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.