Earlham vs. Penn State Altoona

Comparable Facts

Compare Earlham College in Richmond, IN with Penn State Altoona in Altoona, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Altoona is larger than Earlham based on total student enrollment (2,371 students vs. 753 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Earlham College is located in Richmond, IN (Distant Town setting); Penn State Altoona is in Altoona, PA (Small City setting).
• Earlham College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Earlham College 7:1; Penn State Altoona 13:1.

Earlham vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Earlham 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 Penn State Altoona than Earlham ($21,618 vs. $27,107).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Earlham College are 3.4% lower than at Penn State Altoona ($13,985 vs. $14,474).
• Earlham College is 237.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Altoona (about $37,958 more per year; $53,930.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 100.1% higher at Earlham than at Penn State Altoona (about $26,972 more per year; $53,930.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Earlham College than at Penn State Altoona (100% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Earlham College students is 266.3% larger than aid received by Penn State Altoona students ($40,618 vs. $11,088).

Earlham vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Earlham 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 Earlham.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Earlham College (1200) is 20 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (1180).
• Incoming Earlham students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 25 at Penn State Altoona).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Earlham College 1110/1290; Penn State Altoona 1070/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Earlham College 24/33; Penn State Altoona 22/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Earlham - Test optional; Penn State Altoona - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Earlham Mar 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Earlham students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Earlham (73.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.9% at Earlham vs. 10.3% at Penn State Altoona.

Earlham vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Earlham 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).

• Earlham College's six-year graduation rate (66%) is higher than Penn State Altoona's (65%).
• Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn a median of about $16,200 more per year than Earlham graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Earlham College graduates have a $818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Earlham graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Altoona graduates ($268 vs. $277).
• More Earlham graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Altoona students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 69%)

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.