Kent State University at Stark vs. Penn State Altoona

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

 Kent State University at Stark Penn State Altoona
Location Canton, OH Altoona, PA
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 3,446 2,577
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #584
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website kent.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Kent State University at Stark Penn State Altoona
Tuition (In State) $6,962 $15,388
Tuition (Out of State) $16,068 $25,854
Room & Board $8,882 $12,984
Avg Net Price $10,177 $20,621
Avg Grant Aid $4,508 $9,574
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 68%

Admission

 Kent State University at Stark Penn State Altoona
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 7,523
Admitted - 7,204
Acceptance Rate Open 95.8%
Enrolled % Open 12.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.16 3.4
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/28
SAT Range 1050/1250
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2024

Academics

 Kent State University at Stark Penn State Altoona
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (85%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (15%)
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

 Kent State University at Stark Penn State Altoona
Graduation Rate 23% 65%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,300 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,825 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $267 $277

Diversity

 Kent State University at Stark Penn State Altoona
% Men 37% 53%
% Women 63% 47%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 83% 77%
% Black 7% 7%
% Hispanic 2% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 0% 5%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

 Kent State University at Stark Penn State Altoona
% In-State 99% 59%
% Out-of-State 1% 35%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Kent State University at Stark is larger than than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (3,446 students vs. 2,577 students)

Kent State University at Stark vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kent State University at Stark or Penn State Altoona?

  • Penn State Altoona is 121% more expensive to attend than Kent State University at Stark for in-state tuition ($15,388.00 vs. $6,962.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 60.9% higher at Penn State Altoona than Kent State University at Stark ($25,854.00 vs. $16,068.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Kent State University at Stark than Penn State Altoona ($10,177 vs. $20,621)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kent State University at Stark are 46.2% lower than costs at Penn State Altoona ($8,882 vs. $12,984)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Kent State University at Stark than Penn State Altoona (90% vs. 68%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Altoona students is 112.4% larger than aid received Kent State University at Stark ($9,574 vs. $4,508)

Which college is harder to get into, Kent State University at Stark 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 Kent State University at Stark .

  • Accepted freshman Penn State Altoona students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at Kent State University at Stark (3.16)

Kent State University at Stark vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Kent State University at Stark 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 Kent State University at Stark.

  • The graduation rate at Penn State Altoona is higher than Kent State University at Stark (65% vs. 23%)
  • Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn on average $15,000 more per year than Kent State University at Stark graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $40,300)
  • Kent State University at Stark students graduate with a $993 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($25,825 vs. $26,818)
  • Kent State University at Stark graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($267 vs. $277)
  • More Penn State Altoona graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kent State University at Stark students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 46%)

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