Penn State Altoona vs. Susquahanna

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Altoona in Altoona, PA with Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Altoona is larger than Susquahanna based on total student enrollment (2,371 students vs. 2,255 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Penn State Altoona vs. Susquahanna Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Altoona or Susquahanna? 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 Susquahanna ($21,618 vs. $26,444).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 10.1% lower than at Susquehanna University ($14,474 vs. $16,100).
• Susquehanna University is 274.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Altoona (about $43,878 more per year; $59,850.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 122% higher at Susquahanna than at Penn State Altoona (about $32,892 more per year; $59,850.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Susquehanna University than at Penn State Altoona (97% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Susquehanna University students is 341.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Altoona students ($48,966 vs. $11,088).

Penn State Altoona vs. Susquahanna Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Altoona or Susquahanna? 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 Susquahanna and Penn State Altoona.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Susquehanna University (1200) is 20 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (1180).
• Incoming Penn State Altoona students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 25) as students at Susquahanna (25).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Altoona 1070/1290; Susquehanna University 1100/1300.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Altoona 22/28; Susquehanna University 21/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Altoona - Test optional; Susquahanna - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Susquahanna students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Susquahanna (81.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.3% at Penn State Altoona vs. 13.6% at Susquahanna.

Penn State Altoona vs. Susquahanna Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Altoona and Susquahanna? 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).

• Susquehanna University's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than Penn State Altoona's (65%).
• Graduates from Susquehanna University earn a median of about $1,700 more per year than Penn State Altoona graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,000 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Altoona graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Susquahanna graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Altoona graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Susquahanna graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Susquahanna graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Altoona students, three years after graduation. (83% 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.