Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center
Altoona, PA 16602-3616
About Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center
Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center is a public certificate and vocational school in Altoona, Pennsylvania, enrolling about 220 students. Programs focus on certificates and workforce credentials that prepare students for skilled trades and technical careers. The published completion rate is about 68.49% at 150% of normal time. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $38,008 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 68.49%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $38,008.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 665% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center | — | $12,419 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| Pennsylvania (state median) | $19,450 | $17,754 | 181 |
| Town (locale median) | $9,600 | $14,971 | 1,517 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center really?
Key findings
- Average net price runs below the Pennsylvania median net price.
Evidence: average net price at Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center is $12,419.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $12,419 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $5,334 below the Pennsylvania median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $2,552 below the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Avg. net price
$12,419
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $9,019 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $12,277 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $6,110 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $16,786 |
| $110,001+ | $22,232 |
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center is known for
Top program completions
- Dental Assisting/Assistant28
- Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training26
- Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician16
- Welding Technology/Welder15
- Phlebotomy Technician/Phlebotomist9
See earnings & programs for more.
Is Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center.
Campus
Location
Altoona, PA
City / state
- ZIP
- 16602-3616
- NCES locale
- Town
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is 17% below the median for Town campuses ($14,971 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Mid East
Size
Enrollment
220
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 282
- Full-time share
- 95%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$9,500
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 51.50%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional where not shown.
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | — | — | $11,251 |
| 2014 | — | — | $12,626 |
| 2015 | — | — | $11,882 |
| 2016 | — | — | $12,520 |
| 2017 | — | — | $10,821 |
| 2018 | — | — | $9,124 |
| 2019 | — | — | $10,950 |
| 2020 | — | — | $9,573 |
| 2021 | — | — | $9,175 |
| 2022 | — | — | $11,859 |
| 2023 | — | — | $13,906 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Admissions funnel data is not available for this institution.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center reported total enrollment of about 220 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 28% male and 72% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (91.4%), Black or African American (5.0%), and Hispanic or Latino (1.8%). About 51.50% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 57.0% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
94.5% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center in 2024 is 220 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 282 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
73.2%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
68.49% 100% Completion Time
68.49% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 68.49% of students graduating from Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Dental Assisting/Assistant: 0% male / 100% female
- Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training: 12% male / 88% female
- Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician: 100% male / 0% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center graduates earn a median of $38,008 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $38,008. Median federal loan debt: $9,500. Average net price used in cost models: $12,419.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center graduates report median earnings of $38,008 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (11 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center graduates.
Institutional resources
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center—instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Instructional Resources
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $8,865
- Pennsylvania median near the median ($8,615)
- Mid East median near the median ($9,164)
- U.S. median 1.2× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center at a glance
Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center
Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center is a public institution in Altoona, PA.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Dental Assisting/AssistantLicensed Practical/Vocational Nurse TrainingHeating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian91.4%Black or African American5.0%Hispanic or Latino1.8%
Schools near Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center
Other campuses in Altoona, PA when available, plus nearby institutions in Pennsylvania.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C-) within Pennsylvania, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center located?
Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center is located in Altoona, PA.
How much does Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center cost?
Reported tuition is N/A and average net price is $12,419 in the latest College Scorecard data.
What explains Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($12,419), completion (68.5% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($38,008). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center?
Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center reports undergraduate enrollment of about 282 students, White (91.4%), Black or African American (5.0%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center?
About 57.0% of students at Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center earn?
Median earnings are $36,211 six years after entry and $38,008 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center?
The 150%-time completion rate is 68.5% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $9,500.
Is Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center public or private?
Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center is a public institution located in Altoona, PA.
Is Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center an HBCU?
No. Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center a tribal college?
No. Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center does not meet that proxy (reported share 1.8%).
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Pennsylvania college profile
- Pennsylvania college costs
- Pennsylvania colleges by ROI
- Pennsylvania trade schools profile
- Altoona, Pennsylvania city profile
- Mid East regional profile
- Town college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Pennsylvania
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.