Wright State vs. Penn State Altoona

Comparable Facts

Compare Wright State University Main Campus in Dayton, OH with Penn State Altoona in Altoona, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Wright State University Main Campus is larger than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (10,603 students vs. 2,371 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Wright State University Main Campus is located in Dayton, OH (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Altoona is in Altoona, PA (Small City setting).
• Wright State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Wright State University Main Campus 16:1; Penn State Altoona 13:1.

Wright State vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wright State or Penn State Altoona? 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 Wright State University Main Campus than Penn State Altoona ($15,254 vs. $21,618).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wright State University Main Campus are 22.3% lower than at Penn State Altoona ($11,250 vs. $14,474).
• Penn State Altoona is 38.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wright State (about $4,450 more per year; $15,972.00 vs. $11,522.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 27% higher at Penn State Altoona than at Wright State University Main Campus (about $5,736 more per year; $26,958.00 vs. $21,222.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wright State University Main Campus than at Penn State Altoona (92% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Altoona students is 24% larger than aid received by Wright State University Main Campus students ($11,088 vs. $8,942).

Wright State vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wright State or Penn State Altoona? 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 Altoona and Wright State.

• Wright State University Main Campus reports an open admissions policy.
• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Altoona (1180) is 110 points higher than at Wright State (1070).
• Incoming Penn State Altoona students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 21 at Wright State).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wright State University Main Campus 913/1230; Penn State Altoona 1070/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wright State University Main Campus 17/25; Penn State Altoona 22/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wright State - Open admission; Penn State Altoona - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Wright State Aug 23, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Wright State students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Wright State (96.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.4% at Wright State vs. 10.3% at Penn State Altoona.

Wright State vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wright State and Penn State Altoona? 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).

• Penn State Altoona's six-year graduation rate (65%) is higher than Wright State University Main Campus's (40%).
• Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn a median of about $11,900 more per year than Wright State graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $43,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Wright State University Main Campus graduates have a $1,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Wright State graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Altoona graduates ($258 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Altoona graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wright State students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 51%)

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.