Penn State Altoona vs. Wilson College

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Altoona is larger than Wilson College based on total student enrollment (2,371 students vs. 1,907 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Altoona is located in Altoona, PA (Small City setting); Wilson College is in Chambersburg, PA (Distant Town setting).
• Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Wilson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Altoona 13:1; Wilson College 15:1.

Penn State Altoona vs. Wilson College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Altoona or Wilson 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 Wilson College ($21,618 vs. $21,748).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wilson College are 15% lower than at Penn State Altoona ($12,296 vs. $14,474).
• Wilson College is 69.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Altoona (about $11,128 more per year; $27,100.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.5% higher at Wilson College than at Penn State Altoona (about $142 more per year; $27,100.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wilson College than at Penn State Altoona (97% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wilson College students is 60% larger than aid received by Penn State Altoona students ($17,736 vs. $11,088).

Penn State Altoona vs. Wilson College Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Altoona (1180) is 120 points higher than at Wilson College (1060).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Altoona 1070/1290; Wilson College 930/1180.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Altoona 22/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Altoona - Test optional; Wilson College - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Wilson College students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Wilson College (92.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.3% at Penn State Altoona vs. 21.5% at Wilson College.

Penn State Altoona vs. Wilson College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Penn State Altoona's six-year graduation rate (65%) is higher than Wilson College's (53%).
• Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn a median of about $20,600 more per year than Wilson College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $34,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Wilson College graduates have a $1,068 lower median loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates ($25,750 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Wilson College graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Altoona graduates ($266 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Altoona graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wilson College students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 66%)

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.