Penn State Altoona vs. W&J

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Altoona is larger than W&J based on total student enrollment (2,371 students vs. 1,309 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Altoona is located in Altoona, PA (Small City setting); Washington & Jefferson College is in Washington, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Washington & Jefferson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Altoona 13:1; Washington & Jefferson College 11:1.

Penn State Altoona vs. W&J Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Altoona or W&J? 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 W&J ($21,618 vs. $22,702).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 1.6% lower than at Washington & Jefferson College ($14,474 vs. $14,710).
• Washington & Jefferson College is 84% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Altoona (about $13,420 more per year; $29,392.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9% higher at W&J than at Penn State Altoona (about $2,434 more per year; $29,392.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Washington & Jefferson College than at Penn State Altoona (100% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Washington & Jefferson College students is 81.7% larger than aid received by Penn State Altoona students ($20,152 vs. $11,088).

Penn State Altoona vs. W&J Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Altoona (1180) is 50 points higher than at W&J (1130).
• Incoming Penn State Altoona students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 23 at W&J).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Altoona 1070/1290; Washington & Jefferson College 1010/1250.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Altoona 22/28; Washington & Jefferson College 19/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Altoona - Test optional; W&J - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman W&J 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 W&J (80.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.3% at Penn State Altoona vs. 12.6% at W&J.

Penn State Altoona vs. W&J Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Altoona and W&J? 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).

• Washington & Jefferson College's six-year graduation rate (74%) is higher than Penn State Altoona's (65%).
• Graduates from Washington & Jefferson College earn a median of about $1,600 more per year than Penn State Altoona graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,900 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 W&J graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Altoona graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than W&J graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More W&J graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Altoona students, three years after graduation. (79% 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.