Springfield College vs. Penn State Altoona

Should I go to Springfield College or Penn State Altoona? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Springfield College 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
Springfield College vs. Penn State Altoona comparison
Springfield College Penn State Altoona College 3 College 4
Springfield College
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Springfield College Penn State Altoona
Location Springfield, MA Altoona, PA
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 2,921 2,577
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #197 #584
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website spfldcol.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Springfield College Penn State Altoona
Tuition (In State) $41,128 $15,388
Tuition (Out of State) $41,128 $25,854
Room & Board $13,720 $12,984
Avg Net Price $27,930 $20,621
Avg Grant Aid $28,376 $9,574
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 68%

Admission

Springfield College Penn State Altoona
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,549 7,523
Admitted 2,684 7,204
Acceptance Rate 75.6% 95.8%
Enrolled % 19.7% 12.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.56 3.4
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 26/31 21/28
SAT Range 1100/1300 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 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Springfield College Penn State Altoona
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (28%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (22%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Business (7%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

Springfield College Penn State Altoona
Graduation Rate 67% 65%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,200 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 55% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,500 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $253 $277

Diversity

Springfield College Penn State Altoona
% Men 44% 53%
% Women 56% 47%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 81% 77%
% Black 5% 7%
% Hispanic 6% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 3% 5%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Springfield College Penn State Altoona
% In-State 36% 59%
% Out-of-State 59% 35%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Springfield College is larger than than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (2,921 students vs. 2,577 students)

Springfield College vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Springfield College or Penn State Altoona?

  • Springfield College is 167.3% more expensive to attend than Penn State Altoona for in-state tuition ($41,128.00 vs. $15,388.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 59.1% higher at Springfield College than Penn State Altoona ($41,128.00 vs. $25,854.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Altoona than Springfield College ($20,621 vs. $27,930)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 5.7% lower than costs at Springfield College ($12,984 vs. $13,720)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Springfield College than Penn State Altoona (100% vs. 68%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Springfield College students is 196.4% larger than aid received Penn State Altoona ($28,376 vs. $9,574)

Springfield College vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Springfield College 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 Springfield College .

  • The average SAT score at Springfield College (1042) is 49 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (993)
  • Incoming Springfield College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Penn State Altoona (22)
  • Accepted freshman Springfield College students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4)
  • Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (95.8%) than Springfield College (75.6%)

Springfield College vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Springfield College 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 Springfield College.

  • The graduation rate at Springfield College is higher than Penn State Altoona (67% vs. 65%)
  • Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn on average $8,100 more per year than Springfield College graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $47,200)
  • Springfield College students graduate with a $2,318 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($24,500 vs. $26,818)
  • Springfield College graduates are paying $24 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($253 vs. $277)
  • More Penn State Altoona graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Springfield College students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 55%)

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