Central State University vs. Penn State Altoona

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

Central State University Penn State Altoona
Location Wilberforce, OH Altoona, PA
Setting Rural Fringe Small City
Enrollment 5,434 2,577
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1023 #584
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website centralstate.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Central State University Penn State Altoona
Tuition (In State) $5,176 $15,388
Tuition (Out of State) $7,176 $25,854
Room & Board $10,900 $12,984
Avg Net Price $10,194 $20,621
Avg Grant Aid $6,943 $9,574
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 68%

Admission

Central State University Penn State Altoona
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,814 7,523
Admitted 3,388 7,204
Acceptance Rate 88.8% 95.8%
Enrolled % 18.1% 12.6%
Avg High School GPA 2.8 3.4
Typical High School Grades B- B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 14/18 21/28
SAT Range 770/950 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

Central State University Penn State Altoona
Student to Faculty Ratio 21:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

Central State University Penn State Altoona
Graduation Rate 24% 65%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $27,200 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 16% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $39,000 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $403 $277

Diversity

Central State University Penn State Altoona
% Men 30% 53%
% Women 70% 47%
Racial Diversity Extremely Low Low
HBCU Yes No
% White 1% 77%
% Black 95% 7%
% Hispanic 1% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 2%
% International 0% 5%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Central State University Penn State Altoona
% In-State 55% 59%
% Out-of-State 36% 35%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Central State University is larger than than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (5,434 students vs. 2,577 students)

Central State University vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

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

  • Penn State Altoona is 197.3% more expensive to attend than Central State University for in-state tuition ($15,388.00 vs. $5,176.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 260.3% higher at Penn State Altoona than Central State University ($25,854.00 vs. $7,176.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central State University than Penn State Altoona ($10,194 vs. $20,621)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central State University are 19.1% lower than costs at Penn State Altoona ($10,900 vs. $12,984)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Central State University than Penn State Altoona (91% vs. 68%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Altoona students is 37.9% larger than aid received Central State University ($9,574 vs. $6,943)

Central State University vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Central State 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 Central State University .

  • The average SAT score at Penn State Altoona (993) is 216 points higher than at Central State University (777)
  • Incoming Penn State Altoona students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Central State University (16)
  • Accepted freshman Penn State Altoona students have a 0.6 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at Central State University (2.8)
  • Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (95.8%) than Central State University (88.8%)

Central State University vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Central State 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 Central State University.

  • The graduation rate at Penn State Altoona is higher than Central State University (65% vs. 24%)
  • Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn on average $28,100 more per year than Central State University graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $27,200)
  • Penn State Altoona students graduate with a $12,182 lower median federal student loan debt than Central State University graduates. ($26,818 vs. $39,000)
  • Penn State Altoona graduates are paying $126 less per month on federal student loans than Central State University graduates. ($277 vs. $403)
  • More Penn State Altoona graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Central State University students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 16%)

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