WMU vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny

Comparable Facts

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

Western Michigan University is larger than Penn State Greater Allegheny based on total student enrollment (16,744 students vs. 352 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Western Michigan University is located in Kalamazoo, MI (Small City setting); Penn State Greater Allegheny is in McKeesport, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Western Michigan 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: Western Michigan University 16:1; Penn State Greater Allegheny 9:1.

WMU vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WMU 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 WMU ($15,574 vs. $17,331).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Michigan University are 15.9% lower than at Penn State Greater Allegheny ($12,174 vs. $14,474).
• Western Michigan University is 5.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Greater Allegheny (about $844 more per year; $15,252.00 vs. $14,408.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 26.8% higher at Penn State Greater Allegheny than at Western Michigan University (about $5,100 more per year; $24,134.00 vs. $19,034.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Michigan University than at Penn State Greater Allegheny (94% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Greater Allegheny students is 0.7% larger than aid received by Western Michigan University students ($11,121 vs. $11,048).

WMU vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WMU 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 WMU.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Penn State Greater Allegheny (1180) is 70 points higher than at WMU (1110).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Western Michigan University 990/1220; Penn State Greater Allegheny 1080/1280.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Western Michigan University 20/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WMU - Test-free; Penn State Greater Allegheny - Test optional.
• Penn State Greater Allegheny has a higher acceptance rate (96.5%) than WMU (84.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.5% at WMU vs. 19.5% at Penn State Greater Allegheny.

WMU vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WMU 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.

• Western Michigan University's six-year graduation rate (56%) is higher than Penn State Greater Allegheny's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Greater Allegheny earn a median of about $6,400 more per year than WMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $48,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Michigan University graduates have a $185 lower median loan debt than Penn State Greater Allegheny graduates ($26,633 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, WMU graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Greater Allegheny graduates ($275 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Greater Allegheny graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WMU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 54%)

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.