Penn State Altoona vs. Sweet Briar College

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Altoona is larger than Sweet Briar College based on total student enrollment (2,371 students vs. 444 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Altoona is located in Altoona, PA (Small City setting); Sweet Briar College is in Sweet Briar, VA (Small Suburban setting).
• Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Sweet Briar College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Altoona 13:1; Sweet Briar College 9:1.

Penn State Altoona vs. Sweet Briar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Altoona or Sweet Briar 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 Sweet Briar College than Penn State Altoona ($21,322 vs. $21,618).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 5% lower than at Sweet Briar College ($14,474 vs. $15,230).
• Sweet Briar College is 63.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Altoona (about $10,188 more per year; $26,160.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.1% higher at Penn State Altoona than at Sweet Briar College (about $798 more per year; $26,958.00 vs. $26,160.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sweet Briar College than at Penn State Altoona (99% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sweet Briar College students is 101.9% larger than aid received by Penn State Altoona students ($22,387 vs. $11,088).

Penn State Altoona vs. Sweet Briar College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Altoona or Sweet Briar 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 Sweet Briar College and Penn State Altoona.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Sweet Briar College (1210) is 30 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (1180).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Altoona 1070/1290; Sweet Briar College 1100/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Altoona 22/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Altoona - Test optional; Sweet Briar College - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Sweet Briar College students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.54) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Sweet Briar College (75.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.3% at Penn State Altoona vs. 13.2% at Sweet Briar College.

Penn State Altoona vs. Sweet Briar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Altoona and Sweet Briar 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).

• Sweet Briar College's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than Penn State Altoona's (65%).
• Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn a median of about $13,600 more per year than Sweet Briar College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $41,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Altoona graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Sweet Briar 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 Sweet Briar College graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Sweet Briar College 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.