Wesleyan University vs. Penn State Altoona

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

Overview

Wesleyan University Penn State Altoona
Location Middletown, CT Altoona, PA
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 3,271 2,421
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #30 #618
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wesleyan.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Wesleyan University Penn State Altoona
Tuition (In State) $66,716 $15,388
Tuition (Out of State) $66,716 $26,112
Room & Board $19,034 $13,820
Avg Net Price $20,463 $22,506
Avg Grant Aid $64,709 $8,730
% Receiving Grant Aid 38% 64%

Admission

Wesleyan University Penn State Altoona
Applied 14,500 7,134
Admitted 2,479 6,942
Acceptance Rate 17.1% 97.3%
Enrolled % 31.5% 12.4%
Avg High School GPA - 3.4
Typical High School Grades - B+
Admissions Standards Elite Average
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 33/35 22/27
SAT Range 1450/1540 1050/1260
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 Jan 1, 2026

Academics

Wesleyan University Penn State Altoona
Student to Faculty Ratio 7:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (24%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • Ethnic Studies (12%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

Wesleyan University Penn State Altoona
Graduation Rate 92% 65%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $58,000 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 89% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,500 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $180 $277

Diversity

Wesleyan University Penn State Altoona
% Men 2% 0%
% Women 4% 0%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 53% 77%
% Black 7% 7%
% Hispanic 11% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 2%
% International 9% 5%
% Unknown Race 5% 1%

Students

Wesleyan University Penn State Altoona
% In-State 10% 59%
% Out-of-State 75% 35%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Wesleyan University is larger than than Penn State Altoona based on total student enrollment (3,271 students vs. 2,421 students)

Wesleyan University vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wesleyan University or Penn State Altoona?

  • Wesleyan University is 333.6% more expensive to attend than Penn State Altoona for in-state tuition ($66,716.00 vs. $15,388.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 155.5% higher at Wesleyan University than Penn State Altoona ($66,716.00 vs. $26,112.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wesleyan University than Penn State Altoona ($20,463 vs. $22,506)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 37.7% lower than costs at Wesleyan University ($13,820 vs. $19,034)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Penn State Altoona than Wesleyan University (64% vs. 38%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wesleyan University students is 641.2% larger than aid received Penn State Altoona ($64,709 vs. $8,730)

Wesleyan University vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wesleyan 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 Wesleyan University .

  • Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (97.3%) than Wesleyan University (17.1%)

Wesleyan University vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Wesleyan 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 Wesleyan University.

  • The graduation rate at Wesleyan University is higher than Penn State Altoona (92% vs. 65%)
  • Graduates from Wesleyan University earn on average $2,700 more per year than Penn State Altoona graduates after ten years. ($58,000 vs. $55,300)
  • Wesleyan University students graduate with a $9,318 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($17,500 vs. $26,818)
  • Wesleyan University graduates are paying $97 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($180 vs. $277)
  • More Wesleyan University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Altoona students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 69%)

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