Montclair State University vs. Penn State Altoona

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

Montclair State University Penn State Altoona
Location Montclair, NJ Altoona, PA
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 21,784 2,577
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #618 #584
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website montclair.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Montclair State University Penn State Altoona
Tuition (In State) $12,755 $15,388
Tuition (Out of State) $21,465 $25,854
Room & Board $16,170 $12,984
Avg Net Price $13,742 $20,621
Avg Grant Aid $11,771 $9,574
% Receiving Grant Aid 66% 68%

Admission

Montclair State University Penn State Altoona
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 21,393 7,523
Admitted 19,535 7,204
Acceptance Rate 91.3% 95.8%
Enrolled % 20.2% 12.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.4
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/28
SAT Range 950/1200 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

Montclair State University Penn State Altoona
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Work and Family Studies (17%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

Montclair State University Penn State Altoona
Graduation Rate 62% 65%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,100 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 67% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,999 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $237 $277

Diversity

Montclair State University Penn State Altoona
% Men 38% 53%
% Women 62% 47%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 44% 77%
% Black 11% 7%
% Hispanic 25% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 2% 5%
% Unknown Race 9% 1%

Students

Montclair State University Penn State Altoona
% In-State 95% 59%
% Out-of-State 4% 35%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Montclair State University is larger than than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (21,784 students vs. 2,577 students)

Montclair State University vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

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

  • Penn State Altoona is 20.6% more expensive to attend than Montclair State University for in-state tuition ($15,388.00 vs. $12,755.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 20.4% higher at Penn State Altoona than Montclair State University ($25,854.00 vs. $21,465.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Montclair State University than Penn State Altoona ($13,742 vs. $20,621)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 24.5% lower than costs at Montclair State University ($12,984 vs. $16,170)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Penn State Altoona than Montclair State University (68% vs. 66%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Montclair State University students is 22.9% larger than aid received Penn State Altoona ($11,771 vs. $9,574)

Montclair State University vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Montclair State 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 Montclair State University .

  • Accepted freshman Penn State Altoona students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at Montclair State University (3.3)
  • Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (95.8%) than Montclair State University (91.3%)

Montclair State University vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Montclair State 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 Montclair State University.

  • The graduation rate at Penn State Altoona is higher than Montclair State University (65% vs. 62%)
  • Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn on average $4,200 more per year than Montclair State University graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $51,100)
  • Montclair State University students graduate with a $3,819 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($22,999 vs. $26,818)
  • Montclair State University graduates are paying $40 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($237 vs. $277)
  • More Penn State Altoona graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Montclair State 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/