University of Akron vs. Penn State Altoona

Should I go to University of Akron Main Campus or Penn State Altoona? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if University of Akron 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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University of Akron Main Campus vs. Penn State Altoona comparison
University of Akron Main Campus Penn State Altoona College 3 College 4
University of Akron Main Campus
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Overview

University of Akron Penn State Altoona
Location Akron, OH Altoona, PA
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 13,465 2,577
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #838 #584
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uakron.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of Akron Penn State Altoona
Tuition (In State) $10,097 $15,388
Tuition (Out of State) $13,170 $25,854
Room & Board $12,410 $12,984
Avg Net Price $14,667 $20,621
Avg Grant Aid $8,525 $9,574
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 68%

Admission

University of Akron Penn State Altoona
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,282 7,523
Admitted 10,178 7,204
Acceptance Rate 82.9%Open 95.8%
Enrolled % 20.8%Open 12.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.47 3.4
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/25 21/28
SAT Range 980/1230 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

University of Akron Penn State Altoona
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Engineering Technology (6%)
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

University of Akron Penn State Altoona
Graduation Rate 38% 65%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,100 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 45% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,500 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $263 $277

Diversity

University of Akron Penn State Altoona
% Men 50% 53%
% Women 50% 47%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 74% 77%
% Black 12% 7%
% Hispanic 2% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 2% 5%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

University of Akron Penn State Altoona
% In-State 92% 59%
% Out-of-State 7% 35%

Campus

University of Akron 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

  • University of Akron Main Campus is larger than than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (13,465 students vs. 2,577 students)

University of Akron vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

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

  • Penn State Altoona is 52.4% more expensive to attend than University of Akron for in-state tuition ($15,388.00 vs. $10,097.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 96.3% higher at Penn State Altoona than University of Akron Main Campus ($25,854.00 vs. $13,170.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Akron Main Campus than Penn State Altoona ($14,667 vs. $20,621)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Akron Main Campus are 4.6% lower than costs at Penn State Altoona ($12,410 vs. $12,984)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Akron Main Campus than Penn State Altoona (96% vs. 68%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Altoona students is 12.3% larger than aid received University of Akron Main Campus ($9,574 vs. $8,525)

University of Akron vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of Akron 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 University of Akron .

  • The average SAT score at University of Akron Main Campus (1049) is 56 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (993)
  • Incoming University of Akron students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Penn State Altoona (22)
  • Accepted freshman University of Akron students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4)
  • Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (95.8%) than University of Akron (82.9%)

University of Akron vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of Akron 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 University of Akron.

  • The graduation rate at Penn State Altoona is higher than University of Akron Main Campus (65% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn on average $15,200 more per year than University of Akron graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $40,100)
  • University of Akron Main Campus students graduate with a $1,318 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($25,500 vs. $26,818)
  • University of Akron graduates are paying $14 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($263 vs. $277)
  • More Penn State Altoona graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Akron students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 45%)

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