About Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona is a public institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Altoona, Pennsylvania. It enrolls 2,367 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
58/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes29
Value56
Affordability41
Selectivity29
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 98.1%, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
98.1%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1070 – 1290
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
22 – 28
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $22,213 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$22,213
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
29%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
54%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$15,972
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$26,958
Room & Board (on-campus)
$14,474
Room & Board (off-campus)
$15,274
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,020
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,020
Total Cost of Attendance
$32,559
Application fee: $65 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$16,017
$30,001 – $48,000
$16,546
$48,001 – $75,000
$19,464
$75,001 – $110,000
$23,562
Over $110,000
$28,263
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,75010%percentile
$8,75025%percentile
$25,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$34,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $20,980
↓ $4,020
No Pell $19,500
↓ $5,500
Dependent students $19,500
↓ $5,500
Independent students $19,486
↓ $5,514
Female students $20,000
↓ $5,000
Male students $19,500
↓ $5,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($25,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
61% of full-time students who enrolled at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona graduate within six years, and 78% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
61%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
78%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona earn a median of $63,435 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$63,435
Earning > $25K
84%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$50,100
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$63,100
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$50,800
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$53,000
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$62,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $13,000, about 21% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
14.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 91% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona is home to 2,367 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
2,367
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
29%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 68.4%1,618
Hispanic 9.5%225
Black 7.9%187
Asian 4.8%113
International 4.6%108
Other 4.0%95
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityAltoona, Pennsylvania
Housing
Partly residential889 beds available
Adult Learners
4%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Branch campus
What You Can Study
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona offers
a varied set of programs:
26 distinct programs across
19 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Avg Faculty Salary
$79,407
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
177 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
37
21%
$109,255
Associate Professors
37
21%
$82,747
Assistant Professors
19
11%
$69,392
Instructors
84
47%
$67,054
Pros & Cons of Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for:
Based on the data, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona.
Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona hard to get into?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 98.1%.
What is the acceptance rate at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona has an acceptance rate of 98.1%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona scored between 1070 and 1290 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona scored between 22 and 28 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona cost?
The average net price after aid at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona is $22,213 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $63,435 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $22,213 per year. That's roughly 2.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona known for?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona is best known for its programs in Nursing, Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians, Business. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona are $63,435, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona accredited?
Yes. Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona enrolls 2,367 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona graduates 61% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona a public or private college?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona is a Public institution.
Where is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona located?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona is located in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
What programs does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona offer?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona offers 26 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians, Business.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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