Gannon University vs. Penn State Altoona

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

Gannon University Penn State Altoona
Location Erie, PA Altoona, PA
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 4,665 2,577
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #451 #584
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website gannon.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Gannon University Penn State Altoona
Tuition (In State) $35,620 $15,388
Tuition (Out of State) $35,620 $25,854
Room & Board $15,410 $12,984
Avg Net Price $22,200 $20,621
Avg Grant Aid $26,172 $9,574
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 68%

Admission

Gannon University Penn State Altoona
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,678 7,523
Admitted 5,399 7,204
Acceptance Rate 80.8% 95.8%
Enrolled % 11.9% 12.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.59 3.4
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/28 21/28
SAT Range 990/1250 1050/1250
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

Gannon University Penn State Altoona
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (29%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (10%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

Gannon University Penn State Altoona
Graduation Rate 66% 65%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $52,900 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 67% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $279 $277

Diversity

Gannon University Penn State Altoona
% Men 43% 53%
% Women 57% 47%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 76% 77%
% Black 5% 7%
% Hispanic 3% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 9% 5%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

Gannon University Penn State Altoona
% In-State 54% 59%
% Out-of-State 26% 35%

Campus

Gannon 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

  • Gannon University is larger than than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (4,665 students vs. 2,577 students)

Gannon University vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

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

  • Gannon University is 131.5% more expensive to attend than Penn State Altoona for in-state tuition ($35,620.00 vs. $15,388.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 37.8% higher at Gannon University than Penn State Altoona ($35,620.00 vs. $25,854.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Altoona than Gannon University ($20,621 vs. $22,200)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 18.7% lower than costs at Gannon University ($12,984 vs. $15,410)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Gannon University than Penn State Altoona (100% vs. 68%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Gannon University students is 173.4% larger than aid received Penn State Altoona ($26,172 vs. $9,574)

Gannon University vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Gannon University (1035) is 42 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (993)
  • Incoming Gannon University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Penn State Altoona (22)
  • Accepted freshman Gannon University students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4)
  • Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (95.8%) than Gannon University (80.8%)

Gannon University vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Gannon 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 Gannon University.

  • The graduation rate at Gannon University is higher than Penn State Altoona (66% vs. 65%)
  • Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn on average $2,400 more per year than Gannon University graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $52,900)
  • Penn State Altoona students graduate with a $182 lower median federal student loan debt than Gannon University graduates. ($26,818 vs. $27,000)
  • Penn State Altoona graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Gannon University graduates. ($277 vs. $279)
  • More Penn State Altoona graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Gannon University students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 67%)

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