Wilberforce University vs. Penn State Altoona

Should I go to Wilberforce University or Penn State Altoona? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Wilberforce 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.

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Wilberforce University vs. Penn State Altoona comparison
Wilberforce University Penn State Altoona College 3 College 4
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Overview

Wilberforce University Penn State Altoona
Location Wilberforce, OH Altoona, PA
Setting Rural Fringe Small City
Enrollment 656 2,577
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #584
Religious Affiliation African Methodist Episcopal - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wilberforce.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Wilberforce University Penn State Altoona
Tuition (In State) $12,020 $15,388
Tuition (Out of State) $12,020 $25,854
Room & Board $7,000 $12,984
Avg Net Price $14,070 $20,621
Avg Grant Aid $9,380 $9,574
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 68%

Admission

Wilberforce University Penn State Altoona
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,100 7,523
Admitted 1,850 7,204
Acceptance Rate 45.1% 95.8%
Enrolled % 19.6% 12.6%
Avg High School GPA 2.82 3.4
Typical High School Grades B- B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 14/18 21/28
SAT Range 840/940 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 Jul 1, 2024

Academics

Wilberforce University Penn State Altoona
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (54%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Education (6%)

Outcomes

Wilberforce University Penn State Altoona
Graduation Rate 30% 65%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $36,200 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 39% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,750 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $214 $277

Diversity

Wilberforce University Penn State Altoona
% Men 45% 53%
% Women 55% 47%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU Yes No
% White 1% 77%
% Black 84% 7%
% Hispanic 1% 6%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 0% 5%
% Unknown Race 10% 1%

Students

Wilberforce University Penn State Altoona
% In-State 30% 59%
% Out-of-State 34% 35%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Penn State Altoona is larger than than Wilberforce University based on total student enrollment (2,577 students vs. 656 students)

Wilberforce University vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

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

  • Penn State Altoona is 28% more expensive to attend than Wilberforce University for in-state tuition ($15,388.00 vs. $12,020.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 115.1% higher at Penn State Altoona than Wilberforce University ($25,854.00 vs. $12,020.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wilberforce University than Penn State Altoona ($14,070 vs. $20,621)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wilberforce University are 85.5% lower than costs at Penn State Altoona ($7,000 vs. $12,984)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Wilberforce University than Penn State Altoona (100% vs. 68%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Altoona students is 2.1% larger than aid received Wilberforce University ($9,574 vs. $9,380)

Wilberforce University vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Penn State Altoona (993) is 231 points higher than at Wilberforce University (762)
  • Incoming Penn State Altoona students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Wilberforce University (16)
  • Accepted freshman Penn State Altoona students have a 0.58 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at Wilberforce University (2.82)
  • Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (95.8%) than Wilberforce University (45.1%)

Wilberforce University vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Wilberforce 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 Wilberforce University.

  • The graduation rate at Penn State Altoona is higher than Wilberforce University (65% vs. 30%)
  • Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn on average $19,100 more per year than Wilberforce University graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $36,200)
  • Wilberforce University students graduate with a $6,068 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($20,750 vs. $26,818)
  • Wilberforce University graduates are paying $63 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Altoona graduates. ($214 vs. $277)
  • More Penn State Altoona graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wilberforce University students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 39%)

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