SUNY Poly vs. Penn State Altoona

Comparable Facts

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

SUNY Polytechnic Institute is larger than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (2,733 students vs. 2,371 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• SUNY Polytechnic Institute is located in Utica, NY (Rural Fringe setting); Penn State Altoona is in Altoona, PA (Small City setting).
• SUNY Polytechnic Institute is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: SUNY Polytechnic Institute 13:1; Penn State Altoona 13:1.

SUNY Poly vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SUNY Poly 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 SUNY Polytechnic Institute than Penn State Altoona ($14,782 vs. $21,618).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 12.7% lower than at SUNY Polytechnic Institute ($14,474 vs. $16,584).
• Penn State Altoona is 85.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Poly (about $7,347 more per year; $15,972.00 vs. $8,625.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 27.1% higher at Penn State Altoona than at SUNY Polytechnic Institute (about $5,743 more per year; $26,958.00 vs. $21,215.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at SUNY Polytechnic Institute than at Penn State Altoona (100% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Altoona students is 32.7% larger than aid received by SUNY Polytechnic Institute students ($11,088 vs. $8,357).

SUNY Poly vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SUNY Poly 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 SUNY Poly.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at SUNY Polytechnic Institute (1200) is 20 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (1180).
• Incoming SUNY Poly students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 25 at Penn State Altoona).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: SUNY Polytechnic Institute 1025/1370; Penn State Altoona 1070/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: SUNY Polytechnic Institute 22/30; Penn State Altoona 22/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SUNY Poly - Test optional; Penn State Altoona - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: SUNY Poly Aug 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman SUNY Poly students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than SUNY Poly (81.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.7% at SUNY Poly vs. 10.3% at Penn State Altoona.

SUNY Poly vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SUNY Poly 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 SUNY Polytechnic Institute's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn a median of about $2,100 more per year than SUNY Poly graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $53,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, SUNY Polytechnic Institute graduates have a $10,233 lower median loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates ($16,585 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, SUNY Poly graduates have an estimated $106 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Altoona graduates ($171 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Altoona graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY Poly students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 63%)

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.