Carlow University vs. Penn State Altoona

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

Carlow University Penn State Altoona
Location Pittsburgh, PA Altoona, PA
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 2,104 2,577
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #752 #584
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website carlow.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Carlow University Penn State Altoona
Tuition (In State) $32,402 $15,388
Tuition (Out of State) $32,402 $25,854
Room & Board $13,014 $12,984
Avg Net Price $17,437 $20,621
Avg Grant Aid $26,713 $9,574
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 68%

Admission

Carlow University Penn State Altoona
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,124 7,523
Admitted 1,042 7,204
Acceptance Rate 92.7% 95.8%
Enrolled % 19.1% 12.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.6 3.4
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/28
SAT Range 850/1100 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

Academics

Carlow University Penn State Altoona
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (26%)
  • Education (24%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

Carlow University Penn State Altoona
Graduation Rate 51% 65%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,900 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $279 $277

Diversity

Carlow University Penn State Altoona
% Men 14% 53%
% Women 86% 47%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 61% 77%
% Black 22% 7%
% Hispanic 2% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 0% 5%
% Unknown Race 8% 1%

Students

Carlow University Penn State Altoona
% In-State 88% 59%
% Out-of-State 11% 35%

Campus

Carlow University Penn State Altoona
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Penn State Altoona is larger than than Carlow University based on total student enrollment (2,577 students vs. 2,104 students)

Carlow University vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

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

  • Carlow University is 110.6% more expensive to attend than Penn State Altoona for in-state tuition ($32,402.00 vs. $15,388.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 25.3% higher at Carlow University than Penn State Altoona ($32,402.00 vs. $25,854.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Carlow University than Penn State Altoona ($17,437 vs. $20,621)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 0.2% lower than costs at Carlow University ($12,984 vs. $13,014)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Carlow University than Penn State Altoona (99% vs. 68%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Carlow University students is 179% larger than aid received Penn State Altoona ($26,713 vs. $9,574)

Carlow University vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Carlow University 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 Carlow University .

  • The average SAT score at Penn State Altoona (993) is 21 points higher than at Carlow University (972)
  • Incoming Penn State Altoona students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Carlow University (21)
  • Accepted freshman Carlow University students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4)
  • Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (95.8%) than Carlow University (92.7%)

Carlow University vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Carlow University 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 Carlow University.

  • The graduation rate at Penn State Altoona is higher than Carlow University (65% vs. 51%)
  • Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn on average $13,400 more per year than Carlow University graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $41,900)
  • Penn State Altoona students graduate with a $182 lower median federal student loan debt than Carlow University graduates. ($26,818 vs. $27,000)
  • Penn State Altoona graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Carlow University graduates. ($277 vs. $279)
  • More Penn State Altoona graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Carlow University students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 59%)

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