Penn State Altoona vs. UWSP

Comparable Facts

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

University of Wisconsin Stevens Point is larger than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (8,233 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 Wisconsin Stevens Point is in Stevens Point, WI (Distant Town setting).
• Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Altoona 13:1; University of Wisconsin Stevens Point 21:1.

Penn State Altoona vs. UWSP Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Altoona or UWSP? 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 University of Wisconsin Stevens Point than Penn State Altoona ($14,883 vs. $21,618).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Stevens Point are 39.2% lower than at Penn State Altoona ($8,800 vs. $14,474).
• Penn State Altoona is 68.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UWSP (about $6,484 more per year; $15,972.00 vs. $9,488.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 45.7% higher at Penn State Altoona than at University of Wisconsin Stevens Point (about $8,450 more per year; $26,958.00 vs. $18,508.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Wisconsin Stevens Point than at Penn State Altoona (79% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Altoona students is 121.1% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin Stevens Point students ($11,088 vs. $5,014).

Penn State Altoona vs. UWSP Admissions comparison

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

• Incoming Penn State Altoona students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 21 at UWSP).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Altoona 1070/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Altoona 22/28; University of Wisconsin Stevens Point 19/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Altoona - Test optional; UWSP - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UWSP Sep 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Altoona students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at UWSP (3.27).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than UWSP (91.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.3% at Penn State Altoona vs. 23.5% at UWSP.

Penn State Altoona vs. UWSP Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Penn State Altoona's six-year graduation rate (65%) is higher than University of Wisconsin Stevens Point's (61%).
• Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn a median of about $13,600 more per year than UWSP graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $41,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Wisconsin Stevens Point graduates have a $2,458 lower median loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates ($24,360 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, UWSP graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Altoona graduates ($251 vs. $277).
• More UWSP graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Altoona students, three years after graduation. (76% 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.