Penn State Altoona vs. Penn

Comparable Facts

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

University of Pennsylvania is larger than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (29,109 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 Pennsylvania is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
• Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pennsylvania is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Altoona 13:1; University of Pennsylvania 8:1.

Penn State Altoona vs. Penn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Altoona or Penn? 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 Penn ($21,618 vs. $23,570).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 24.5% lower than at University of Pennsylvania ($14,474 vs. $19,174).
• University of Pennsylvania is 330% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Altoona (about $52,714 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 154.8% higher at Penn than at Penn State Altoona (about $41,728 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Altoona than at University of Pennsylvania (78% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pennsylvania students is 490.3% larger than aid received by Penn State Altoona students ($65,458 vs. $11,088).

Penn State Altoona vs. Penn Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Pennsylvania (1540) is 360 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (1180).
• Incoming Penn students have a 10 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 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 Pennsylvania 1510/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Altoona 22/28; University of Pennsylvania 34/36.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Altoona - Test optional; Penn - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: Penn Jan 5, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Penn students have a 0.55 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Penn (5.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.3% at Penn State Altoona vs. 68% at Penn.

Penn State Altoona vs. Penn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Altoona and Penn? 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 Pennsylvania's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Penn State Altoona's (65%).
• Graduates from University of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $68,300 more per year than Penn State Altoona graduates about ten years after starting college ($123,600 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Pennsylvania graduates have a $6,185 lower median loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates ($20,633 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Penn graduates have an estimated $64 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Altoona graduates ($213 vs. $277).
• More Penn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Altoona students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.