Penn State Altoona vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Altoona in Altoona, PA with Penn State Harrisburg in Middletown, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Harrisburg is larger than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 2,371 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Altoona is located in Altoona, PA (Small City setting); Penn State Harrisburg is in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Altoona 13:1; Penn State Harrisburg 15:1.

Penn State Altoona vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Altoona or Penn State Harrisburg? 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 Penn State Harrisburg ($21,618 vs. $23,788).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Penn State Altoona and Penn State Harrisburg ($14,474).
• Penn State Altoona and Penn State Harrisburg have the same published in-state tuition ($15,972.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is the same at Penn State Altoona as at Penn State Harrisburg ($26,958.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Altoona than at Penn State Harrisburg (78% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Altoona students is 19.9% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($11,088 vs. $9,245).

Penn State Altoona vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Altoona or Penn State Harrisburg? 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 Harrisburg and Penn State Altoona.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Harrisburg (1220) is 40 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (1180).
• Incoming Penn State Harrisburg students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 25 at Penn State Altoona).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Altoona 1070/1290; Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Altoona 22/28; Penn State Harrisburg 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Altoona - Test optional; Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Harrisburg students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Penn State Harrisburg (97.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.3% at Penn State Altoona vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

Penn State Altoona vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Altoona and Penn State Harrisburg? 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 Penn State Harrisburg's (63%).
• Graduates of Penn State Altoona and Penn State Harrisburg have equivalent median earnings about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $55,300), per the federal College Scorecard cohort (typically among students working and not enrolled).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg and Penn State Altoona graduates have the same median loan debt ($26,818 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Penn State Harrisburg and Penn State Altoona graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($277 vs. $277).
• Federal student loan repayment rates three years after graduation are the same for Penn State Harrisburg and Penn State Altoona graduates (69% vs. 69%).

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.