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Penn State Berks Penn State Harrisburg Penn State Abington University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown Coastal Carolina Penn State Erie-Behrend College Penn State Shepherd University Penn State Mont Alto OSU-Oklahoma City ECU Temple| Penn State Altoona | West Virginia University Institute of Technology | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Penn State Altoona | West Virginia University Tech | ||
| Location | Altoona, PA | Montgomery, WV | ||
| Setting | Small City | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 2,421 | 1,448 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #618 | #806 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | psu.edu | wvutech.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Penn State Altoona | West Virginia University Tech | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $15,388 | $8,064 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $26,112 | $20,120 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,820 | $13,020 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,506 | $11,015 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,730 | $9,577 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 64% | 93% |
Admission |
Penn State Altoona | West Virginia University Tech | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,134 | 1,005 | ||
| Admitted | 6,942 | 613 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 97.3% | 61% | ||
| Enrolled % | 12.4% | 50.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.4 | 3.51 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 22/27 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 1050/1260 | 900/1120 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Penn State Altoona | West Virginia University Tech | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Penn State Altoona | West Virginia University Tech | ||
| Graduation Rate | 65% | 29% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $55,300 | $50,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 69% | 59% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,818 | $24,001 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $277 | $248 |
Diversity |
Penn State Altoona | West Virginia University Tech | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 0% | 9% | ||
| % Women | 0% | 22% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 77% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 5% | 9% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 3% |
Students |
Penn State Altoona | West Virginia University Tech | ||
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| % In-State | 59% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 35% | 20% | ||
Campus |
Penn State Altoona | West Virginia University Tech | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Penn State Altoona is larger than than West Virginia University Tech based on total student enrollment (2,421 students vs. 1,448 students)
Penn State Altoona vs. West Virginia University Tech Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Penn State Altoona or West Virginia University Tech?
- Penn State Altoona is 90.8% more expensive to attend than West Virginia University Tech for in-state tuition ($15,388.00 vs. $8,064.00)
- Out of state tuition is 29.8% higher at Penn State Altoona than West Virginia University Institute of Technology ($26,112.00 vs. $20,120.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at West Virginia University Institute of Technology than Penn State Altoona ($11,015 vs. $22,506)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at West Virginia University Institute of Technology are 6.1% lower than costs at Penn State Altoona ($13,020 vs. $13,820)
- More students receive financial grant aid at West Virginia University Institute of Technology than Penn State Altoona (93% vs. 64%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by West Virginia University Institute of Technology students is 9.7% larger than aid received Penn State Altoona ($9,577 vs. $8,730)
Penn State Altoona vs. West Virginia University Tech Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Altoona or West Virginia University Tech? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between West Virginia University Tech or Penn State Altoona .
- The average SAT score at Penn State Altoona (993) is 11 points higher than at West Virginia University Tech (982)
- Incoming Penn State Altoona students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at West Virginia University Tech (21)
- Accepted freshman West Virginia University Tech students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.51) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4)
- Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (97.3%) than West Virginia University Tech (61%)
Penn State Altoona vs. West Virginia University Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Penn State Altoona or West Virginia University Tech? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between West Virginia University Tech and Penn State Altoona.
- The graduation rate at Penn State Altoona is higher than West Virginia University Institute of Technology (65% vs. 29%)
- Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn on average $4,700 more per year than West Virginia University Tech graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $50,600)
- West Virginia University Institute of Technology students graduate with a $2,817 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($24,001 vs. $26,818)
- West Virginia University Tech graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($248 vs. $277)
- More Penn State Altoona graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former West Virginia University Tech students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 59%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/