Howard vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny

Comparable Facts

Compare Howard University in Washington, DC with Penn State Greater Allegheny in McKeesport, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Howard University is larger than Penn State Greater Allegheny based on total student enrollment (14,890 students vs. 352 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Howard University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Penn State Greater Allegheny is in McKeesport, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Howard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Greater Allegheny is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Howard University 13:1; Penn State Greater Allegheny 9:1.

Howard vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Howard or Penn State Greater Allegheny? 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 Greater Allegheny than Howard ($15,574 vs. $33,368).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Greater Allegheny are 16.4% lower than at Howard University ($14,474 vs. $17,322).
• Howard University is 148.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Greater Allegheny (about $21,402 more per year; $35,810.00 vs. $14,408.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 48.4% higher at Howard than at Penn State Greater Allegheny (about $11,676 more per year; $35,810.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Howard University than at Penn State Greater Allegheny (99% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Howard University students is 91.2% larger than aid received by Penn State Greater Allegheny students ($21,262 vs. $11,121).

Howard vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Howard or Penn State Greater Allegheny? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Penn State Greater Allegheny and Howard.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Howard University (1210) is 30 points higher than at Penn State Greater Allegheny (1180).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Howard University 1090/1320; Penn State Greater Allegheny 1080/1280.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Howard University 22/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Howard - Test optional; Penn State Greater Allegheny - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Howard Feb 15, 2027.
• Penn State Greater Allegheny has a higher acceptance rate (96.5%) than Howard (41.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.4% at Howard vs. 19.5% at Penn State Greater Allegheny.

Howard vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Howard and Penn State Greater Allegheny? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Howard University's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Penn State Greater Allegheny's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Greater Allegheny earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than Howard graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $51,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Greater Allegheny graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Howard graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Greater Allegheny graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Howard graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Penn State Greater Allegheny graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Howard students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 33%)

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.