Penn State Altoona vs. Wilkes

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Altoona in Altoona, PA with Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Wilkes University is larger than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (5,381 students vs. 2,371 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Altoona is located in Altoona, PA (Small City setting); Wilkes University is in Wilkes-Barre, PA (Small City setting).
• Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Wilkes University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Altoona 13:1; Wilkes University 13:1.

Penn State Altoona vs. Wilkes Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Altoona or Wilkes? 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 Wilkes ($21,618 vs. $28,511).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 10.5% lower than at Wilkes University ($14,474 vs. $16,166).
• Wilkes University is 172.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Altoona (about $27,524 more per year; $43,496.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 61.3% higher at Wilkes than at Penn State Altoona (about $16,538 more per year; $43,496.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wilkes University than at Penn State Altoona (100% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wilkes University students is 155.4% larger than aid received by Penn State Altoona students ($28,324 vs. $11,088).

Penn State Altoona vs. Wilkes Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Altoona (1180) is 40 points higher than at Wilkes (1140).
• Incoming Penn State Altoona students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 25) as students at Wilkes (25).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Altoona 1070/1290; Wilkes University 1020/1250.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Altoona 22/28; Wilkes University 22/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Altoona - Test optional; Wilkes - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Wilkes students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Wilkes (90.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.3% at Penn State Altoona vs. 9.3% at Wilkes.

Penn State Altoona vs. Wilkes Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Altoona and Wilkes? 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 Wilkes University's (58%).
• Graduates from Wilkes University earn a median of about $2,900 more per year than Penn State Altoona graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,200 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Wilkes University graduates have a $818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Wilkes graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Altoona graduates ($268 vs. $277).
• More Wilkes graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Altoona students, three years after graduation. (75% 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.