UNCSA vs. Penn State Mont Alto

Comparable Facts

Compare University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston Salem, NC with Penn State Mont Alto in Mont Alto, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of North Carolina School of the Arts is larger than Penn State Mont Alto based on total student enrollment (1,111 students vs. 582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of North Carolina School of the Arts is located in Winston Salem, NC (Midsize City setting); Penn State Mont Alto is in Mont Alto, PA (Distant Town setting).
• University of North Carolina School of the Arts is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Mont Alto is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of North Carolina School of the Arts 6:1; Penn State Mont Alto 10:1.

UNCSA vs. Penn State Mont Alto Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNCSA or Penn State Mont Alto? 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 University of North Carolina School of the Arts than Penn State Mont Alto ($13,140 vs. $19,675).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina School of the Arts are 6.6% lower than at Penn State Mont Alto ($13,517 vs. $14,474).
• Penn State Mont Alto is 52% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNCSA (about $4,931 more per year; $14,408.00 vs. $9,477.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.7% higher at UNCSA than at Penn State Mont Alto (about $3,077 more per year; $27,211.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Mont Alto than at University of North Carolina School of the Arts (84% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of North Carolina School of the Arts students is 27.4% larger than aid received by Penn State Mont Alto students ($12,876 vs. $10,106).

UNCSA vs. Penn State Mont Alto Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UNCSA or Penn State Mont Alto? 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 Mont Alto and UNCSA.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of North Carolina School of the Arts (1260) is 120 points higher than at Penn State Mont Alto (1140).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina School of the Arts 1140/1370; Penn State Mont Alto 980/1300.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina School of the Arts 22/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UNCSA - Test optional; Penn State Mont Alto - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UNCSA Mar 15, 2027.
• Penn State Mont Alto has a higher acceptance rate (98.2%) than UNCSA (30%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 55.5% at UNCSA vs. 24.4% at Penn State Mont Alto.

UNCSA vs. Penn State Mont Alto Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UNCSA and Penn State Mont Alto? 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).

• University of North Carolina School of the Arts's six-year graduation rate (58%) is higher than Penn State Mont Alto's (52%).
• Graduates from Penn State Mont Alto earn a median of about $16,200 more per year than UNCSA graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Mont Alto graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than UNCSA graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Mont Alto graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UNCSA graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Penn State Mont Alto graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNCSA students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 56%)

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.