Penn State Erie-Behrend College vs. Penn State Altoona

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Erie Behrend College is larger than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (3,336 students vs. 2,371 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Penn State Erie-Behrend College vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Erie-Behrend College or Penn State Altoona? 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 Penn State Erie-Behrend College ($21,618 vs. $23,764).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Penn State Erie Behrend College and Penn State Altoona ($14,474).
• Penn State Erie Behrend College and Penn State Altoona have the same published in-state tuition ($15,972.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is the same at Penn State Erie-Behrend College as at Penn State Altoona ($26,958.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Altoona than at Penn State Erie Behrend College (78% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Altoona students is 3% larger than aid received by Penn State Erie Behrend College students ($11,088 vs. $10,760).

Penn State Erie-Behrend College vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Erie-Behrend College or Penn State Altoona? 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 Penn State Altoona and Penn State Erie-Behrend College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Erie Behrend College (1220) is 40 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (1180).
• Incoming Penn State Erie-Behrend College students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 25 at Penn State Altoona).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Erie Behrend College 1120/1310; Penn State Altoona 1070/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Erie Behrend College 25/31; Penn State Altoona 22/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Erie-Behrend College - Test optional; Penn State Altoona - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Erie-Behrend College students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.49) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Penn State Erie-Behrend College (96.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.5% at Penn State Erie-Behrend College vs. 10.3% at Penn State Altoona.

Penn State Erie-Behrend College vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Erie-Behrend College and Penn State Altoona? 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 Erie Behrend College's six-year graduation rate (66%) is higher than Penn State Altoona's (65%).
• Graduates of Penn State Erie Behrend College and Penn State Altoona have equivalent median earnings about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $55,300), per the federal College Scorecard cohort (typically among students working and not enrolled).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Altoona and Penn State Erie-Behrend College graduates have the same median loan debt ($26,818 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Penn State Altoona and Penn State Erie-Behrend College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($277 vs. $277).
• Federal student loan repayment rates three years after graduation are the same for Penn State Altoona and Penn State Erie-Behrend College graduates (69% 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.