Penn State Altoona vs. Ursinus College

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Altoona is larger than Ursinus College based on total student enrollment (2,371 students vs. 1,502 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Altoona is located in Altoona, PA (Small City setting); Ursinus College is in Collegeville, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Ursinus College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Altoona 13:1; Ursinus College 10:1.

Penn State Altoona vs. Ursinus College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Altoona or Ursinus 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 Ursinus College ($21,618 vs. $32,158).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 15% lower than at Ursinus College ($14,474 vs. $17,028).
• Ursinus College is 283.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Altoona (about $45,238 more per year; $61,210.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 127.1% higher at Ursinus College than at Penn State Altoona (about $34,252 more per year; $61,210.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ursinus College than at Penn State Altoona (100% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Ursinus College students is 303.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Altoona students ($44,754 vs. $11,088).

Penn State Altoona vs. Ursinus College Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ursinus College (1290) is 110 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (1180).
• Incoming Ursinus College students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 25 at Penn State Altoona).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Altoona 1070/1290; Ursinus College 1200/1385.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Altoona 22/28; Ursinus College 28/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Altoona - Test optional; Ursinus College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Ursinus College May 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Ursinus College students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Ursinus College (91.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.3% at Penn State Altoona vs. 12.5% at Ursinus College.

Penn State Altoona vs. Ursinus College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Altoona and Ursinus 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).

• Ursinus College's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than Penn State Altoona's (65%).
• Graduates from Ursinus College earn a median of about $2,700 more per year than Penn State Altoona graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Altoona graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Ursinus 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 Ursinus College graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Ursinus College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Altoona students, three years after graduation. (83% 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.