Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Penn State Berks Penn State Harrisburg Penn State Abington University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown Penn State Erie-Behrend College Penn State Penn State Mont Alto OSU-Oklahoma City Temple University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg WCU Penn State Brandywine| Penn State Altoona | Southern Virginia University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
||||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Penn State Altoona | SVU | ||
| Location | Altoona, PA | Buena Vista, VA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 2,577 | 1,053 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #584 | #984 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | psu.edu | svu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Penn State Altoona | SVU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $15,388 | $18,858 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $25,854 | $18,858 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,984 | $9,150 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,621 | $23,274 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,574 | $8,188 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 68% | 99% |
Admission |
Penn State Altoona | SVU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,523 | 1,090 | ||
| Admitted | 7,204 | 1,084 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 95.8% | 99.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 12.6% | 35.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.4 | 3.19 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/28 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 1050/1250 | 900/1250 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline |
Academics |
Penn State Altoona | SVU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 17:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Penn State Altoona | SVU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 65% | 25% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $55,300 | $40,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 69% | 53% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,818 | $23,654 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $277 | $244 |
Diversity |
Penn State Altoona | SVU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 53% | 53% | ||
| % Women | 47% | 47% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 77% | 80% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 7% | ||
| % International | 5% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
Penn State Altoona | SVU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 59% | 12% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 35% | 73% | ||
Campus |
Penn State Altoona | SVU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Penn State Altoona is larger than than SVU based on total student enrollment (2,577 students vs. 1,053 students)
Penn State Altoona vs. SVU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Penn State Altoona or SVU?
- Southern Virginia University is 22.6% more expensive to attend than Penn State Altoona for in-state tuition ($18,858.00 vs. $15,388.00)
- Out of state tuition is 37.1% higher at Penn State Altoona than Southern Virginia University ($25,854.00 vs. $18,858.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Altoona than SVU ($20,621 vs. $23,274)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Virginia University are 41.9% lower than costs at Penn State Altoona ($9,150 vs. $12,984)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Virginia University than Penn State Altoona (99% vs. 68%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Altoona students is 16.9% larger than aid received Southern Virginia University ($9,574 vs. $8,188)
Penn State Altoona vs. SVU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Altoona or SVU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SVU or Penn State Altoona .
- The average SAT score at Southern Virginia University (1041) is 48 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (993)
- Incoming SVU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Penn State Altoona (22)
- Accepted freshman Penn State Altoona students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at SVU (3.19)
- SVU has a higher acceptance rate (99.4%) than Penn State Altoona (95.8%)
Penn State Altoona vs. SVU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Penn State Altoona or SVU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SVU and Penn State Altoona.
- The graduation rate at Penn State Altoona is higher than Southern Virginia University (65% vs. 25%)
- Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn on average $14,700 more per year than SVU graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $40,600)
- Southern Virginia University students graduate with a $3,164 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($23,654 vs. $26,818)
- SVU graduates are paying $33 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($244 vs. $277)
- More Penn State Altoona graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SVU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/