Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Penn State Altoona

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Altoona is larger than Penn State Wilkes-Barre based on total student enrollment (2,371 students vs. 315 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Wilkes Barre is located in Dallas, PA (Rural Fringe setting); Penn State Altoona is in Altoona, PA (Small City setting).
• Penn State Wilkes Barre 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 Wilkes Barre 10:1; Penn State Altoona 13:1.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Wilkes-Barre 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 Wilkes Barre than Penn State Altoona ($16,621 vs. $21,618).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 5.2% lower than at Penn State Wilkes Barre ($14,474 vs. $15,274).
• Penn State Altoona is 11.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Wilkes-Barre (about $1,692 more per year; $15,972.00 vs. $14,280.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.3% higher at Penn State Altoona than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (about $2,952 more per year; $26,958.00 vs. $24,006.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Wilkes Barre than at Penn State Altoona (89% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Altoona students is 13.8% larger than aid received by Penn State Wilkes Barre students ($11,088 vs. $9,742).

Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Wilkes-Barre 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 Wilkes-Barre.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Wilkes Barre (1210) is 30 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (1180).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Wilkes Barre 1090/1330; Penn State Altoona 1070/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPenn State Altoona 22/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Wilkes-Barre - Test optional; Penn State Altoona - Test optional.
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Penn State Wilkes-Barre (97%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15% at Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. 10.3% at Penn State Altoona.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Wilkes-Barre 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 Altoona's six-year graduation rate (65%) is higher than Penn State Wilkes Barre's (47%).
• Graduates of Penn State Wilkes Barre 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 Wilkes-Barre graduates have the same median loan debt ($26,818 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Penn State Altoona and Penn State Wilkes-Barre 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 Wilkes-Barre 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.