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Penn State Berks Framingham State University Salem State University Penn State Harrisburg Westfield State University Bridgewater State Penn State Abington University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown Penn State Erie-Behrend College Penn State Worcester State University University of Massachusetts-Lowell| Fitchburg State University | Penn State Altoona | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Fitchburg State | Penn State Altoona | ||
| Location | Fitchburg, MA | Altoona, PA | ||
| Setting | Midsize Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 6,554 | 2,577 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #549 | #584 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | fitchburgstate.edu | psu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Fitchburg State | Penn State Altoona | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $970 | $15,388 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $7,050 | $25,854 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,516 | $12,984 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $15,535 | $20,621 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $7,093 | $9,574 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 76% | 68% |
Admission |
Fitchburg State | Penn State Altoona | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 3,084 | 7,523 | ||
| Admitted | 2,654 | 7,204 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86.1% | 95.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.3% | 12.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.29 | 3.4 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 22/28 | 21/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1020/1220 | 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 |
Fitchburg State | Penn State Altoona | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Fitchburg State | Penn State Altoona | ||
| Graduation Rate | 47% | 65% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,000 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 65% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,685 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $234 | $277 |
Diversity |
Fitchburg State | Penn State Altoona | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 38% | 53% | ||
| % Women | 62% | 47% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 73% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 9% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 1% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
Fitchburg State | Penn State Altoona | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 90% | 59% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 10% | 35% | ||
Campus |
Fitchburg State | Penn State Altoona | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Fitchburg State University is larger than than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (6,554 students vs. 2,577 students)
Fitchburg State vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Fitchburg State or Penn State Altoona?
- Penn State Altoona is 1,486.4% more expensive to attend than Fitchburg State for in-state tuition ($15,388.00 vs. $970.00)
- Out of state tuition is 266.7% higher at Penn State Altoona than Fitchburg State University ($25,854.00 vs. $7,050.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Fitchburg State University than Penn State Altoona ($15,535 vs. $20,621)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 4.1% lower than costs at Fitchburg State University ($12,984 vs. $13,516)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Fitchburg State University than Penn State Altoona (76% vs. 68%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Altoona students is 35% larger than aid received Fitchburg State University ($9,574 vs. $7,093)
Fitchburg State vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Fitchburg State 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 Fitchburg State .
- The average SAT score at Fitchburg State University (993) is the same at Penn State Altoona (993)
- Incoming Penn State Altoona students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Fitchburg State (21)
- Accepted freshman Penn State Altoona students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at Fitchburg State (3.29)
- Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (95.8%) than Fitchburg State (86.1%)
Fitchburg State vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Fitchburg State 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 Fitchburg State.
- The graduation rate at Penn State Altoona is higher than Fitchburg State University (65% vs. 47%)
- Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn on average $11,300 more per year than Fitchburg State graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $44,000)
- Fitchburg State University students graduate with a $4,133 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($22,685 vs. $26,818)
- Fitchburg State graduates are paying $43 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($234 vs. $277)
- More Penn State Altoona graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fitchburg State students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 65%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/