ASU vs. Penn State Altoona

Should I go to Appalachian State University or Penn State Altoona? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if ASU 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

UNCW ECU WCU University of North Carolina at Asheville NC State UNC Charlotte UNC Chapel Hill JMU Penn State Berks Tennessee Elon Penn State Harrisburg
Appalachian State University vs. Penn State Altoona comparison
Appalachian State University Penn State Altoona College 3 College 4
Appalachian State University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

ASU Penn State Altoona
Location Boone, NC Altoona, PA
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 20,436 2,577
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #594 #584
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website appstate.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

ASU Penn State Altoona
Tuition (In State) $4,242 $15,388
Tuition (Out of State) $20,246 $25,854
Room & Board $11,582 $12,984
Avg Net Price $13,084 $20,621
Avg Grant Aid $7,443 $9,574
% Receiving Grant Aid 47% 68%

Admission

ASU Penn State Altoona
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 22,255 7,523
Admitted 18,489 7,204
Acceptance Rate 83.1% 95.8%
Enrolled % 21.2% 12.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.96 3.4
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Average Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/27 21/28
SAT Range 1100/1270 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 Feb 1, 2024

Academics

ASU Penn State Altoona
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

ASU Penn State Altoona
Graduation Rate 65% 65%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,600 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $211 $277

Diversity

ASU Penn State Altoona
% Men 42% 53%
% Women 58% 47%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 85% 77%
% Black 3% 7%
% Hispanic 4% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 1% 5%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

ASU Penn State Altoona
% In-State 87% 59%
% Out-of-State 13% 35%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Appalachian State University is larger than than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (20,436 students vs. 2,577 students)

ASU vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ASU or Penn State Altoona?

  • Penn State Altoona is 262.8% more expensive to attend than ASU for in-state tuition ($15,388.00 vs. $4,242.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 27.7% higher at Penn State Altoona than Appalachian State University ($25,854.00 vs. $20,246.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Appalachian State University than Penn State Altoona ($13,084 vs. $20,621)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Appalachian State University are 12.1% lower than costs at Penn State Altoona ($11,582 vs. $12,984)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Penn State Altoona than Appalachian State University (68% vs. 47%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Altoona students is 28.6% larger than aid received Appalachian State University ($9,574 vs. $7,443)

ASU vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ASU 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 ASU .

  • The average SAT score at Appalachian State University (1157) is 164 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (993)
  • Incoming ASU students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Penn State Altoona (22)
  • Accepted freshman ASU students have a 0.56 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4)
  • Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (95.8%) than ASU (83.1%)

ASU vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, ASU 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 ASU.

  • The graduation rate at ASU is the same as at Penn State Altoona (65% vs. 65%)
  • Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn on average $13,700 more per year than ASU graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $41,600)
  • Appalachian State University students graduate with a $6,318 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($20,500 vs. $26,818)
  • ASU graduates are paying $66 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($211 vs. $277)
  • More ASU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Altoona students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 69%)

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