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Rutgers NJIT Rowan University UD Penn State Berks Rider University Seton Hall University Penn State Monmouth University Penn State Harrisburg Montclair State University Stevens| The College of New Jersey | Penn State Altoona | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
TCNJ | Penn State Altoona | ||
| Location | Ewing, NJ | Altoona, PA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 7,652 | 2,421 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #164 | #618 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | tcnj.edu | psu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
TCNJ | Penn State Altoona | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $14,706 | $15,388 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $20,589 | $26,112 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,569 | $13,820 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,379 | $22,506 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $13,824 | $8,730 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 62% | 64% |
Admission |
TCNJ | Penn State Altoona | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 11,668 | 7,134 | ||
| Admitted | 7,251 | 6,942 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 62.1% | 97.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21.3% | 12.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.29 | 3.4 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 25/31 | 22/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1140/1340 | 1050/1260 | ||
| 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 | Feb 1, 2026 |
Academics |
TCNJ | Penn State Altoona | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
TCNJ | Penn State Altoona | ||
| Graduation Rate | 87% | 65% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $62,100 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 85% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,250 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $240 | $277 |
Diversity |
TCNJ | Penn State Altoona | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 2% | 0% | ||
| % Women | 6% | 0% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 66% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 0% | 2% | ||
| % International | 0% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 1% |
Students |
TCNJ | Penn State Altoona | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 95% | 59% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 5% | 35% | ||
Campus |
TCNJ | Penn State Altoona | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- The College of New Jersey is larger than than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (7,652 students vs. 2,421 students)
TCNJ vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, TCNJ or Penn State Altoona?
- Penn State Altoona is 4.6% more expensive to attend than TCNJ for in-state tuition ($15,388.00 vs. $14,706.00)
- Out of state tuition is 26.8% higher at Penn State Altoona than The College of New Jersey ($26,112.00 vs. $20,589.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The College of New Jersey than Penn State Altoona ($22,379 vs. $22,506)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 12.7% lower than costs at The College of New Jersey ($13,820 vs. $15,569)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Penn State Altoona than The College of New Jersey (64% vs. 62%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by The College of New Jersey students is 58.4% larger than aid received Penn State Altoona ($13,824 vs. $8,730)
TCNJ vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, TCNJ 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 TCNJ .
- The average SAT score at The College of New Jersey (1227) is 234 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (993)
- Incoming TCNJ students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Penn State Altoona (22)
- Accepted freshman Penn State Altoona students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at TCNJ (3.29)
- Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (97.3%) than TCNJ (62.1%)
TCNJ vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, TCNJ 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 TCNJ.
- The graduation rate at TCNJ is higher than Penn State Altoona (87% vs. 65%)
- Graduates from The College of New Jersey earn on average $6,800 more per year than Penn State Altoona graduates after ten years. ($62,100 vs. $55,300)
- The College of New Jersey students graduate with a $3,568 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($23,250 vs. $26,818)
- TCNJ graduates are paying $37 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($240 vs. $277)
- More TCNJ graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Altoona students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/