PSC vs. Penn State Altoona

Should I go to Polk State College or Penn State Altoona? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if PSC 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.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

Penn State Berks Penn State Harrisburg Valencia College Penn State Abington University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown Penn State Erie-Behrend College Penn State Penn State Mont Alto OSU-Oklahoma City Temple University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg WCU
Polk State College vs. Penn State Altoona comparison
Polk State College Penn State Altoona College 3 College 4
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 PSC Penn State Altoona
Location Winter Haven, FL Altoona, PA
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 8,180 2,577
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #584
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website polk.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 PSC Penn State Altoona
Tuition (In State) $2,483 $15,388
Tuition (Out of State) $9,933 $25,854
Room & Board $8,339 $12,984
Avg Net Price $9,588 $20,621
Avg Grant Aid $3,168 $9,574
% Receiving Grant Aid 71% 68%

Admission

 PSC 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 - 3.4
Typical High School Grades - 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

Academics

 PSC Penn State Altoona
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (52%)
  • Health Professions (20%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Work and Family Studies (3%)
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

 PSC Penn State Altoona
Graduation Rate - 65%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $34,000 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 40% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $9,500 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $98 $277

Diversity

 PSC Penn State Altoona
% Men 34% 53%
% Women 66% 47%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 53% 77%
% Black 17% 7%
% Hispanic 20% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 1% 5%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

 PSC Penn State Altoona
% In-State 99% 59%
% Out-of-State 0% 35%

Campus

 PSC 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

  • Polk State College is larger than than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (8,180 students vs. 2,577 students)

PSC vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PSC or Penn State Altoona?

  • Penn State Altoona is 519.7% more expensive to attend than PSC for in-state tuition ($15,388.00 vs. $2,483.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 160.3% higher at Penn State Altoona than Polk State College ($25,854.00 vs. $9,933.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Polk State College than Penn State Altoona ($9,588 vs. $20,621)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Polk State College are 55.7% lower than costs at Penn State Altoona ($8,339 vs. $12,984)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Polk State College than Penn State Altoona (71% vs. 68%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Altoona students is 202.2% larger than aid received Polk State College ($9,574 vs. $3,168)

Which college is harder to get into, PSC 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 PSC .

PSC vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, PSC 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 PSC.

  • Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn on average $21,300 more per year than PSC graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $34,000)
  • Polk State College students graduate with a $17,318 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($9,500 vs. $26,818)
  • PSC graduates are paying $179 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($98 vs. $277)
  • More Penn State Altoona graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PSC students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 40%)

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