Academic Comparison between Lafayette and Penn State Altoona

Lafayette College and Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona are frequently compared when students or parents prepare college admissions. Lafayette is a four-year, private (not-for-profit) school located in Easton, PA and Penn State Altoona is a four-year, public school located in Altoona, PA.

The following list compares two colleges briefly in important perspectives. You can compare them with comprehensive information on full comparison page.

Lafayette is a private (not-for-profit) and Penn State Altoona is a public school and both are four-year schools.
Lafayette has more expensive tuition & fees ($64,648) than Penn State Altoona ($26,958).
It is harder to admit to Lafayette than Penn State Altoona.
Lafayette has a higher submitted SAT score (1,430) than Penn State Altoona (1,180).
Lafayette has higher submitted ACT score (31) than Penn State Altoona (26).
Lafayette has more students with 2,775 students while Penn State Altoona has 2,371 students.
Lafayette has a lower number of students per faculty with 10 to 1 while Penn State Altoona's ratio is 13 to 1.
Lafayette has more full-time faculties with 261 faculties while Penn State Altoona has 177 full-time faculties.

Comparison Table with important Academic Factors

Lafayette College	vs.	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona
Easton, Pennsylvania	Location	Altoona, Pennsylvania
Four-year, Private (not-for-profit)	School Type	four-year, Public
Bachelor's degree	Highest Degree Offered	Bachelor's degree
Baccalaureate College - Arts & Sciences	Carnegie Classification
$64,648	2025 Tuition & Fees	In-State$15,972 Out-Of-State$26,958
61%	% Receiving Financial Aid	73%
$45,956	Average Amount of Financial Aid	$10,865

31.45 %	Acceptance Rates	98.06 %
21.77 %	Yield (Enrollment Rates)	10.26 %
1,430	SAT Score	1,180
31	ACT Score	26
88 %	Graduation Rate	17 %
10 %	Transfer-out Rate	-
90 %	Retention Rate	80 %
2,775	Student Population	2,371
261	Number of Faculties	177
10 to 1	Students to Faculty Ratio	13 to 1
Distance Learning (Online Classes), ROTC, Study Abroad	Special Learning Opportunities	Distance Learning (Online Classes), ROTC, Study Abroad, Teacher Certification
Academic/career counseling service, Employment services, Placement services	On Campus Student Services	Academic/career counseling service, Employment services