Mount Saint Mary College vs. Penn State Altoona

Comparable Facts

Compare Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, NY with Penn State Altoona in Altoona, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Mount Saint Mary College is larger than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (2,491 students vs. 2,371 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mount Saint Mary College is located in Newburgh, NY (Small City setting); Penn State Altoona is in Altoona, PA (Small City setting).
• Mount Saint Mary College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mount Saint Mary College 12:1; Penn State Altoona 13:1.

Mount Saint Mary College vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mount Saint Mary College or Penn State Altoona? 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 Altoona than Mount Saint Mary College ($21,618 vs. $26,896).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 25.4% lower than at Mount Saint Mary College ($14,474 vs. $19,390).
• Mount Saint Mary College is 172% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Altoona (about $27,478 more per year; $43,450.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 61.2% higher at Mount Saint Mary College than at Penn State Altoona (about $16,492 more per year; $43,450.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mount Saint Mary College than at Penn State Altoona (99% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Saint Mary College students is 155.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Altoona students ($28,345 vs. $11,088).

Mount Saint Mary College vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mount Saint Mary College or Penn State Altoona? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Penn State Altoona and Mount Saint Mary College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Altoona (1180) is 10 points higher than at Mount Saint Mary College (1170).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Saint Mary College 1090/1255; Penn State Altoona 1070/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPenn State Altoona 22/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Mount Saint Mary College - Test optional; Penn State Altoona - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Altoona students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at Mount Saint Mary College (3.3).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Mount Saint Mary College (88.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7% at Mount Saint Mary College vs. 10.3% at Penn State Altoona.

Mount Saint Mary College vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mount Saint Mary College and Penn State Altoona? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Penn State Altoona's six-year graduation rate (65%) is higher than Mount Saint Mary College's (55%).
• Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn a median of about $6,100 more per year than Mount Saint Mary College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $49,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mount Saint Mary College graduates have a $818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Mount Saint Mary College graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Altoona graduates ($268 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Altoona graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mount Saint Mary College 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.