Penn State Altoona vs. Swarthmore

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Altoona is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (2,371 students vs. 1,623 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Altoona is located in Altoona, PA (Small City setting); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Altoona 13:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

Penn State Altoona vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Altoona or Swarthmore? 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 Swarthmore ($21,618 vs. $22,469).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 28.7% lower than at Swarthmore College ($14,474 vs. $20,308).
• Swarthmore College is 310.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Altoona (about $49,522 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 142.9% higher at Swarthmore than at Penn State Altoona (about $38,536 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Altoona than at Swarthmore College (78% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 455.9% larger than aid received by Penn State Altoona students ($61,634 vs. $11,088).

Penn State Altoona vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 350 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (1180).
• Incoming Swarthmore students have a 9 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 25 at Penn State Altoona).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Altoona 1070/1290; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Altoona 22/28; Swarthmore College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Altoona - Test optional; Swarthmore - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.5 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.3% at Penn State Altoona vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

Penn State Altoona vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Swarthmore College's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than Penn State Altoona's (65%).
• Graduates from Swarthmore College earn a median of about $10,500 more per year than Penn State Altoona graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,800 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Swarthmore College graduates have a $7,318 lower median loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates ($19,500 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Swarthmore graduates have an estimated $76 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Altoona graduates ($201 vs. $277).
• More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Altoona students, three years after graduation. (87% 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.