TU vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny

Comparable Facts

Compare Towson University in Towson, MD with Penn State Greater Allegheny in McKeesport, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Towson University is larger than Penn State Greater Allegheny based on total student enrollment (19,401 students vs. 352 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Towson University is located in Towson, MD (Small City setting); Penn State Greater Allegheny is in McKeesport, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Towson University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Greater Allegheny is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Towson University 14:1; Penn State Greater Allegheny 9:1.

TU vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, TU or Penn State Greater Allegheny? 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 Greater Allegheny than TU ($15,574 vs. $16,653).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Greater Allegheny are 11% lower than at Towson University ($14,474 vs. $16,260).
• Penn State Greater Allegheny is 22.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than TU (about $2,680 more per year; $14,408.00 vs. $11,728.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 23.6% higher at TU than at Penn State Greater Allegheny (about $5,686 more per year; $29,820.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Greater Allegheny than at Towson University (86% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Towson University students is 6.3% larger than aid received by Penn State Greater Allegheny students ($11,820 vs. $11,121).

TU vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, TU or Penn State Greater Allegheny? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Penn State Greater Allegheny and TU.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Penn State Greater Allegheny (1180) is 90 points higher than at TU (1090).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Towson University 950/1235; Penn State Greater Allegheny 1080/1280.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Towson University 19/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: TU - Test optional; Penn State Greater Allegheny - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: TU Apr 1, 2027.
• Penn State Greater Allegheny has a higher acceptance rate (96.5%) than TU (82%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at TU vs. 19.5% at Penn State Greater Allegheny.

TU vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for TU and Penn State Greater Allegheny? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Towson University's six-year graduation rate (64%) is higher than Penn State Greater Allegheny's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Greater Allegheny earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than TU graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $53,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Towson University graduates have a $9,068 lower median loan debt than Penn State Greater Allegheny graduates ($17,750 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, TU graduates have an estimated $94 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Greater Allegheny graduates ($183 vs. $277).
• More TU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Greater Allegheny students, three years after graduation. (69% 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.