Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona vs. Houghton University Overview
You’re wrestling with a tough question: “Should I go to Penn State - Altoona or Houghton?“
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona
Houghton University
Can you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesCan you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesThis complete guide analyzes both the quantitative and qualitative differences between Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona and Houghton University. This comparison is particularly valuable at understanding the cultural nuances between the colleges since it uses student videos to capture the “vibes” of campus - these videos are exclusively available on CampusReel :)
Differences between Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona and Houghton University
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s go through a general overview of the high-level differences between Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona and Houghton University. The table below summarizes some of the most important statistics around competitiveness, costs, etc.
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona | Houghton University | |
|---|---|---|
| In-state Tuition | $14,610 | $29,458 |
| Net Price | $23,969 | $21,253 |
| Average Financial Aid | $4,642 | $19,283 |
| Total Undergraduates | 3772 | 1014 |
| Average SAT Scores | 890 - 1090 | 955 - 1240 |
| Acceptance Rate | 89 | 95 |
| Location | 3000 Ivyside Park | 1 Willard Ave |
| City Name | Altoona | Houghton |
WARNINGS: Based on net price alone, Houghton University is the cheaper option. However, this sticker price may not adequately represent the difference in living costs between Altoona and Houghton. Penn State - Altoona is in a Mid-Atlantic and Houghton is in a Mid-Atlantic - sometimes off campus meals and housing costs can dramatically vary between schools
Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona or Houghton University Harder to get into? Which school is easier to get into?
If you’re looking at acceptance rate alone, then Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona is more difficult to get into. However, each college is looking to fill its incoming class with a variety of students with different strengths, backgrounds, etc.
Therefore, the acceptance rate alone is not a good indicator that Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona is a better school or will be more difficult for you specifically to get into. On the flipside, Houghton University is easier to get into based on acceptance rate alone.
You can use the below college admissions predictor to determine your likelihood of acceptance at either school.
How Do Penn State - Altoona Dorms Compare to housing Options at Houghton?
Both colleges provide on-campus living options. Penn State - Altoona charges for on-campus living, while Houghton charges N/A for on-campus living. Most importantly, though, check out the video below for a sample of dorm tours at each school.
Penn State - Altoona and Houghton student body differences
The table below helps demonstrate the student body differences as well.
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona, % | Houghton,% | |
|---|---|---|
| White | 76.55999999999999 | 77.71000000000001 |
| Hispanic | 5.7299999999999995 | 1.78 |
| Black | 7.290000000000001 | 2.56 |
| Foreign | 4.53 | 10.549999999999999 |
| Others | 5.9 | 7.4 |
How different is the Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona campus compared to Houghton University campus?
The Penn State - Altoona campus is located in Altoona, PA and is characterized as City: Small (population less than 100,000). The Houghton campus is located in Houghton, NY and is characterized as Rural: Remote (rural territory more than 25 miles from an urbanized area and more than 10 miles from an urban cluster).
Which school gives more financial aid?
Penn State - Altoona provides $4,642 whereas Houghton provides an average of $19,283.
How does Penn State - Altoona academics compare to Houghton?
When analyzing academics between Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona and Houghton University we’ll look at both what current students are studying and also where they end up after graduation. After all, college should prepare you for a career! Analyzing each school’s outcomes is super valuable to understand the value of the degree.
| Majors | Penn State - Altoona | Houghton |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture agriculture operations and related sciences | N/A | 6 |
| Natural resources and conservation | 10 | N/A |
| Architecture and related services | N/A | N/A |
| Area ethnic cultural gender and group studies | N/A | 9 |
| Communication journalism and related programs | 13 | 26 |
| Computer and information sciences and support services | 17 | 2 |
| Communications technologies technicians and support services | N/A | N/A |
| Personal and culinary services | N/A | N/A |
| Engineering | 59 | 3 |
| Education | 15 | 26 |
| Engineering technologies and engineering related fields | N/A | N/A |
Which is better: Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona or Houghton University?
We’ve compared dorm life, costs, outcomes and more to provide the most complete comparison between Penn State - Altoona and Houghton. But, you’re smart enough to know that numbers paint a terrible picture for truly understanding what each college and community is like. And, the real answer to which school is better is: the school that’s right for you. No matter who you ask, if they know what they’re talking about, the answer is the same: the “better” school is whatever is the best fit for you personally. That’s why it’s extremely important to check out all the videos on CampusReel for each school.
How does Penn State - Altoona social life compare to Houghton?
It’s tough to understand the nuances of social life with data alone. That’s why we’ve brought in real student videos to show how Penn State - Altoona social life differs from Houghton.
Check here.
Check here.