Pratt Institute vs. Penn State Altoona

Comparable Facts

Compare Pratt Institute Main in Brooklyn, NY with Penn State Altoona in Altoona, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Pratt Institute Main is larger than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (5,356 students vs. 2,371 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pratt Institute Main is located in Brooklyn, NY (Large City setting); Penn State Altoona is in Altoona, PA (Small City setting).
• Pratt Institute Main is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pratt Institute Main 9:1; Penn State Altoona 13:1.

Pratt Institute vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pratt Institute 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 Pratt Institute ($21,618 vs. $54,150).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 16.5% lower than at Pratt Institute Main ($14,474 vs. $17,336).
• Pratt Institute Main is 287.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Altoona (about $45,873 more per year; $61,845.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 129.4% higher at Pratt Institute than at Penn State Altoona (about $34,887 more per year; $61,845.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Pratt Institute Main as at Penn State Altoona (78% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pratt Institute Main students is 134.7% larger than aid received by Penn State Altoona students ($26,021 vs. $11,088).

Pratt Institute vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pratt Institute 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 Pratt Institute.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Pratt Institute Main (1270) is 90 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (1180).
• Incoming Pratt Institute 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: Pratt Institute Main 1150/1390; Penn State Altoona 1070/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Pratt Institute Main 26/31; Penn State Altoona 22/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pratt Institute - Test optional; Penn State Altoona - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Pratt Institute Jan 5, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Pratt Institute students have a 0.46 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Pratt Institute (73.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.3% at Pratt Institute vs. 10.3% at Penn State Altoona.

Pratt Institute vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pratt Institute 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 Pratt Institute Main's (62%).
• Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn a median of about $6,100 more per year than Pratt Institute graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $49,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pratt Institute Main graduates have a $568 lower median loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates ($26,250 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Pratt Institute graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Altoona graduates ($271 vs. $277).
• More Pratt Institute graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Altoona students, three years after graduation. (76% 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.