Quinnipiac vs. Penn State Altoona

Comparable Facts

Compare Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT with Penn State Altoona in Altoona, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Quinnipiac University is larger than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (9,424 students vs. 2,371 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Quinnipiac University is located in Hamden, CT (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Altoona is in Altoona, PA (Small City setting).
• Quinnipiac University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Quinnipiac University 12:1; Penn State Altoona 13:1.

Quinnipiac vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Quinnipiac 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 Quinnipiac ($21,618 vs. $40,632).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 16.1% lower than at Quinnipiac University ($14,474 vs. $17,260).
• Quinnipiac University is 247.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Altoona (about $39,508 more per year; $55,480.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 105.8% higher at Quinnipiac than at Penn State Altoona (about $28,522 more per year; $55,480.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Quinnipiac University than at Penn State Altoona (100% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Quinnipiac University students is 184.7% larger than aid received by Penn State Altoona students ($31,568 vs. $11,088).

Quinnipiac vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Quinnipiac 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 Quinnipiac.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Quinnipiac University (1240) is 60 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (1180).
• Incoming Quinnipiac students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 25 at Penn State Altoona).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Quinnipiac University 1150/1320; Penn State Altoona 1070/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Quinnipiac University 25/30; Penn State Altoona 22/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Quinnipiac - Test optional; Penn State Altoona - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Quinnipiac Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Altoona students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at Quinnipiac (3.39).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Quinnipiac (72.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.1% at Quinnipiac vs. 10.3% at Penn State Altoona.

Quinnipiac vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Quinnipiac 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).

• Quinnipiac University's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than Penn State Altoona's (65%).
• Graduates from Quinnipiac University earn a median of about $10,200 more per year than Penn State Altoona graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,500 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Quinnipiac University graduates have a $818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Quinnipiac graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Altoona graduates ($268 vs. $277).
• More Quinnipiac graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Altoona students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.