Penn State Altoona vs. Mary Washington College

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Altoona in Altoona, PA with University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Mary Washington is larger than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (3,826 students vs. 2,371 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Altoona is located in Altoona, PA (Small City setting); University of Mary Washington is in Fredericksburg, VA (Small Suburban setting).
• Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Mary Washington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Altoona 13:1; University of Mary Washington 13:1.

Penn State Altoona vs. Mary Washington College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Altoona or Mary Washington 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 Penn State Altoona than Mary Washington College ($21,618 vs. $21,800).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Mary Washington are 1.5% lower than at Penn State Altoona ($14,250 vs. $14,474).
• Penn State Altoona is 9.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mary Washington College (about $1,332 more per year; $15,972.00 vs. $14,640.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.2% higher at Mary Washington College than at Penn State Altoona (about $602 more per year; $27,560.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Mary Washington than at Penn State Altoona (99% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Altoona students is 5.7% larger than aid received by University of Mary Washington students ($11,088 vs. $10,491).

Penn State Altoona vs. Mary Washington College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Altoona or Mary Washington 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 Mary Washington College and Penn State Altoona.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Mary Washington (1270) is 90 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (1180).
• Incoming Mary Washington College students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 25 at Penn State Altoona).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Altoona 1070/1290; University of Mary Washington 1170/1370.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Altoona 22/28; University of Mary Washington 27/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Altoona - Test optional; Mary Washington College - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Mary Washington College students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Mary Washington College (79.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.3% at Penn State Altoona vs. 17.7% at Mary Washington College.

Penn State Altoona vs. Mary Washington College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Altoona and Mary Washington 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).

• University of Mary Washington's six-year graduation rate (71%) is higher than Penn State Altoona's (65%).
• Graduates from University of Mary Washington earn a median of about $200 more per year than Penn State Altoona graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,500 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Mary Washington graduates have a $5,318 lower median loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Mary Washington College graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Altoona graduates ($222 vs. $277).
• More Mary Washington College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Altoona students, three years after graduation. (80% 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.