Penn State Altoona vs. Westminster College

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Altoona is larger than Westminster College based on total student enrollment (2,371 students vs. 1,191 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Altoona is located in Altoona, PA (Small City setting); Westminster College is in New Wilmington, PA (Town Fringe setting).
• Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Westminster College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Altoona 13:1; Westminster College 12:1.

Penn State Altoona vs. Westminster College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Altoona or Westminster 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 Westminster College than Penn State Altoona ($20,394 vs. $21,618).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Westminster College are 11% lower than at Penn State Altoona ($12,880 vs. $14,474).
• Westminster College is 152.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Altoona (about $24,318 more per year; $40,290.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 49.5% higher at Westminster College than at Penn State Altoona (about $13,332 more per year; $40,290.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Westminster College than at Penn State Altoona (100% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Westminster College students is 193.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Altoona students ($32,553 vs. $11,088).

Penn State Altoona vs. Westminster College Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Altoona (1180) is 30 points higher than at Westminster College (1150).
• Incoming Penn State Altoona students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 23 at Westminster College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Altoona 1070/1290; Westminster College 1040/1258.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Altoona 22/28; Westminster College 20/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Altoona - Test optional; Westminster College - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman Westminster College students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Westminster College (92.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.3% at Penn State Altoona vs. 12.1% at Westminster College.

Penn State Altoona vs. Westminster College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Westminster College's six-year graduation rate (74%) is higher than Penn State Altoona's (65%).
• Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn a median of about $9,600 more per year than Westminster College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $45,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Altoona graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Westminster 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 Westminster College graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Westminster College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Altoona students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.