Rowan University vs. Penn State Altoona

Should I go to Rowan University or Penn State Altoona? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Rowan University or Penn State Altoona is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Rowan University vs. Penn State Altoona comparison
Rowan University Penn State Altoona College 3 College 4
Rowan University
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Overview

Rowan University Penn State Altoona
Location Glassboro, NJ Altoona, PA
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 19,535 2,577
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #209 #584
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website rowan.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Rowan University Penn State Altoona
Tuition (In State) $10,715 $15,388
Tuition (Out of State) $20,108 $25,854
Room & Board $15,956 $12,984
Avg Net Price $20,963 $20,621
Avg Grant Aid $11,246 $9,574
% Receiving Grant Aid 84% 68%

Admission

Rowan University Penn State Altoona
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,903 7,523
Admitted 13,006 7,204
Acceptance Rate 76.9% 95.8%
Enrolled % 19.9% 12.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.44 3.4
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/31 21/28
SAT Range 1090/1300 1050/1250
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

Rowan University Penn State Altoona
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (17%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

Rowan University Penn State Altoona
Graduation Rate 68% 65%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,300 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 67% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,000 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $206 $277

Diversity

Rowan University Penn State Altoona
% Men 49% 53%
% Women 51% 47%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 69% 77%
% Black 10% 7%
% Hispanic 10% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 1% 5%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

Rowan University Penn State Altoona
% In-State 94% 59%
% Out-of-State 5% 35%

Campus

Rowan University Penn State Altoona
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Rowan University is larger than than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (19,535 students vs. 2,577 students)

Rowan University vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rowan University or Penn State Altoona?

  • Penn State Altoona is 43.6% more expensive to attend than Rowan University for in-state tuition ($15,388.00 vs. $10,715.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 28.6% higher at Penn State Altoona than Rowan University ($25,854.00 vs. $20,108.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Altoona than Rowan University ($20,621 vs. $20,963)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 22.9% lower than costs at Rowan University ($12,984 vs. $15,956)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rowan University than Penn State Altoona (84% vs. 68%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rowan University students is 17.5% larger than aid received Penn State Altoona ($11,246 vs. $9,574)

Rowan University vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rowan University or Penn State Altoona? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State Altoona or Rowan University .

  • The average SAT score at Rowan University (1065) is 72 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (993)
  • Accepted freshman Rowan University students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.44) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4)
  • Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (95.8%) than Rowan University (76.9%)

Rowan University vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Rowan University or Penn State Altoona? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Penn State Altoona and Rowan University.

  • The graduation rate at Rowan University is higher than Penn State Altoona (68% vs. 65%)
  • Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn on average $2,000 more per year than Rowan University graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $53,300)
  • Rowan University students graduate with a $6,818 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($20,000 vs. $26,818)
  • Rowan University graduates are paying $71 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($206 vs. $277)
  • More Penn State Altoona graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rowan University students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 67%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/