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Penn State Berks Bridgewater State Fitchburg State Penn State Harrisburg Framingham State University Westfield State University Penn State Abington University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown University of Massachusetts-Boston Penn State Erie-Behrend College Penn State Suffolk University| Salem State University | Penn State Altoona | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Salem State University | Penn State Altoona | ||
| Location | Salem, MA | Altoona, PA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 6,539 | 2,577 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #733 | #584 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | salemstate.edu | psu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Salem State University | Penn State Altoona | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $910 | $15,388 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $7,050 | $25,854 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,954 | $12,984 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,277 | $20,621 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,562 | $9,574 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 68% |
Admission |
Salem State University | Penn State Altoona | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 5,093 | 7,523 | ||
| Admitted | 4,719 | 7,204 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 92.7% | 95.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.3% | 12.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.17 | 3.4 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/28 | |||
| SAT Range | 986/1210 | 1050/1250 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jun 1, 2024 |
Academics |
Salem State University | Penn State Altoona | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Salem State University | Penn State Altoona | ||
| Graduation Rate | 42% | 65% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,400 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 63% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,000 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $248 | $277 |
Diversity |
Salem State University | Penn State Altoona | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 31% | 53% | ||
| % Women | 69% | 47% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 68% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 9% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 3% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
Salem State University | Penn State Altoona | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 90% | 59% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 8% | 35% | ||
Campus |
Salem State University | Penn State Altoona | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Salem State University is larger than than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (6,539 students vs. 2,577 students)
Salem State University vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Salem State University or Penn State Altoona?
- Penn State Altoona is 1,591% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($15,388.00 vs. $910.00)
- Out of state tuition is 266.7% higher at Penn State Altoona than Salem State University ($25,854.00 vs. $7,050.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Salem State University than Penn State Altoona ($19,277 vs. $20,621)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 15.2% lower than costs at Salem State University ($12,984 vs. $14,954)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than Penn State Altoona (99% vs. 68%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Altoona students is 11.8% larger than aid received Salem State University ($9,574 vs. $8,562)
Salem State University vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Salem State University 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 Salem State University .
- Accepted freshman Penn State Altoona students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
- Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (95.8%) than Salem State University (92.7%)
Salem State University vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Salem State University 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 Salem State University.
- The graduation rate at Penn State Altoona is higher than Salem State University (65% vs. 42%)
- Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn on average $10,900 more per year than Salem State University graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $44,400)
- Salem State University students graduate with a $2,818 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($24,000 vs. $26,818)
- Salem State University graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($248 vs. $277)
- More Penn State Altoona graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem State University students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 63%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/