Penn State Altoona vs. American Public University System

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

 Penn State Altoona American Public University System
Location Altoona, PA Charles Town, WV
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 2,577 48,668
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #584
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit For-profit
Website psu.edu apus.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Penn State Altoona American Public University System
Tuition (In State) $15,388 $6,840
Tuition (Out of State) $25,854 $6,840
Room & Board $12,984 $8,128
Avg Net Price $20,621 $11,172
Avg Grant Aid $9,574 $5,607
% Receiving Grant Aid 68% 88%

Admission

 Penn State Altoona American Public University System
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,523 -
Admitted 7,204 -
Acceptance Rate 95.8% Open
Enrolled % 12.6% Open
Avg High School GPA 3.4 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Average Unavailable
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

Academics

 Penn State Altoona American Public University System
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 24:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (23%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (15%)
  • General Studies (11%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

 Penn State Altoona American Public University System
Graduation Rate 65% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $55,300 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 23%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,818 $19,998
Median Loan Payment $277 $206

Diversity

 Penn State Altoona American Public University System
% Men 53% 64%
% Women 47% 36%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 77% 57%
% Black 7% 19%
% Hispanic 6% 11%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 5% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 6%

Students

 Penn State Altoona American Public University System
% In-State 59% 1%
% Out-of-State 35% 97%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • American Public University System is larger than than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (48,668 students vs. 2,577 students)

Penn State Altoona vs. American Public University System Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Altoona or American Public University System?

  • Penn State Altoona is 125% more expensive to attend than American Public University System for in-state tuition ($15,388.00 vs. $6,840.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 278% higher at Penn State Altoona than American Public University System ($25,854.00 vs. $6,840.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at American Public University System than Penn State Altoona ($11,172 vs. $20,621)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American Public University System are 59.7% lower than costs at Penn State Altoona ($8,128 vs. $12,984)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at American Public University System than Penn State Altoona (88% vs. 68%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Altoona students is 70.8% larger than aid received American Public University System ($9,574 vs. $5,607)

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Altoona or American Public University System? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between American Public University System or Penn State Altoona .

Penn State Altoona vs. American Public University System Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Penn State Altoona or American Public University System? 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 American Public University System and Penn State Altoona.

  • American Public University System students graduate with a $6,820 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($19,998 vs. $26,818)
  • American Public University System graduates are paying $71 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($206 vs. $277)
  • More Penn State Altoona graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former American Public University System students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 23%)

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