Penn State Mont Alto vs. VWC

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Mont Alto in Mont Alto, PA with Virginia Wesleyan University in Virginia Beach, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Virginia Wesleyan University is larger than Penn State Mont Alto based on total student enrollment (1,853 students vs. 582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Mont Alto is located in Mont Alto, PA (Distant Town setting); Virginia Wesleyan University is in Virginia Beach, VA (Large City setting).
• Penn State Mont Alto is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Mont Alto 10:1; Virginia Wesleyan University 15:1.

Penn State Mont Alto vs. VWC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Mont Alto or VWC? 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 Mont Alto than VWC ($19,675 vs. $21,267).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Wesleyan University are 17.6% lower than at Penn State Mont Alto ($11,930 vs. $14,474).
• Virginia Wesleyan University is 160.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Mont Alto (about $23,092 more per year; $37,500.00 vs. $14,408.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 55.4% higher at VWC than at Penn State Mont Alto (about $13,366 more per year; $37,500.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Wesleyan University than at Penn State Mont Alto (100% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Wesleyan University students is 196.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Mont Alto students ($29,923 vs. $10,106).

Penn State Mont Alto vs. VWC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Mont Alto or VWC? 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 VWC and Penn State Mont Alto.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Virginia Wesleyan University (1250) is 110 points higher than at Penn State Mont Alto (1140).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Mont Alto 980/1300; Virginia Wesleyan University 1140/1350.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsVirginia Wesleyan University 28/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Mont Alto - Test optional; VWC - Test optional.
• Penn State Mont Alto has a higher acceptance rate (98.2%) than VWC (72.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.4% at Penn State Mont Alto vs. 11.9% at VWC.

Penn State Mont Alto vs. VWC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Mont Alto and VWC? 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 Mont Alto's six-year graduation rate (52%) is higher than Virginia Wesleyan University's (48%).
• Graduates from Penn State Mont Alto earn a median of about $13,600 more per year than VWC graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $41,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Mont Alto graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than VWC graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Mont Alto graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VWC graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Penn State Mont Alto graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VWC students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 57%)

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.