Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona is a public four-year university in Altoona, Pennsylvania, enrolling about 2,367 students. Admission is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of about 98.06% in federal reporting data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $63,435 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $15,972
- 2024 Average Net Price: $22,213 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 98.06% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 2,367 97.7% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 16.50%
- Average SAT Score: 1187
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona: what the data shows
Common questions about Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona is located in Altoona, PA (ZIP 16601-3777).
NCES locale classification: Town.
Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona public or private?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona is a Public institution.
How much does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona cost?
Published tuition: $15,972 in-state, $26,958 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $22,213.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $16,017 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $16,546 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $19,464 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $23,562 |
| $110,001+ | $28,263 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $63,888.
How hard is it to get into Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona?
Admission rate: 98.06%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1187.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona?
Total enrollment: 2,367 students.
About 98% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona?
150%-time completion rate: 16.50%.
First-year retention: 79.5%.
What do graduates of Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona earn?
Median earnings: $55,620 six years after entry; $63,435 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $25,000.
29.37% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Other/Unknown Programs (307 completions)
- CIP 513899 (59 completions)
- Business Administration, Management, & Operations (37 completions)
- Mechanical Technologies (26 completions)
- Casino Operations and Services (21 completions)
- General Psychology (21 completions)
- Graphic Communications (20 completions)
- Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration (19 completions)
- CIP 190701 (13 completions)
- General Biological Sciences (13 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 98.06%; completion rate 16.50%; median earnings $63,435 at 10 years; net price $22,213. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Costs
Tuition Costs
$15,972
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona was $15,972.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$22,213
2024 Value
In 2024 Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $22,213.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$88,852 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$22,213 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$63,888 4-Year In-State Tuition
$107,832 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional.
4-year total cost breakdown for Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona.
Financial Aid by Income Level
29.37% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
53.66% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona 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 Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona 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 | $14,240 | $21,302 | $22,976 |
| 2014 | $14,588 | $21,820 | $22,193 |
| 2015 | $14,610 | $22,344 | $23,969 |
| 2016 | $14,828 | $22,834 | $24,696 |
| 2017 | $15,190 | $23,692 | $23,927 |
| 2018 | $15,198 | $24,450 | $24,274 |
| 2019 | $15,206 | $24,916 | — |
| 2022 | $15,904 | $26,370 | $24,385 |
| 2023 | $15,944 | $26,668 | $24,699 |
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.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
98.06% Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1187
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
97.7% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona in 2024 is 2,367 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
79.5%
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.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
12.37% 100% Completion Time
16.50% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 12.37% of students graduating from Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona.
Return on Investment
$25,000 Median Student Debt
$63,435 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
39.41% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
613.94% Return on Investment
3.9 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona.
Top Programs by Completions
10 Programs Reporting Data
CIP 51.3899: 59 completions
Business Administration, Management, & Operations: 37 completions
Mechanical Technologies: 26 completions
Casino Operations and Services: 21 completions
General Psychology: 21 completions
Graphic Communications: 20 completions
Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration: 19 completions
CIP 19.0701: 13 completions
General Biological Sciences: 13 completions
Other/Unknown Programs: 307 completions
Most popular programs at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona graduates.
About
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona is a public institution located in Altoona, PA, offering 29 distinct degree programs across various academic disciplines. The institution enrolls approximately 2,367 students. The admission rate is 98.06%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1187. The institution maintains a 16.50% graduation rate. Approximately 29.37% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Public
Location
Altoona, PA 16601-3777
Region: Mid East
Insights and Analysis
Graduation Rate Considerations: The 16.50% graduation rate at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona falls below the national average. Prospective students should carefully consider factors such as academic preparation, support services, and career outcomes when evaluating this institution.
FAQ
How much does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona cost?
Reported in-state tuition is $15,972 and average net price is $22,213 in the latest College Scorecard data.
How hard is it to get into Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona?
The admission rate is 98.1% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data.
What test scores do students need for Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona reports midpoint SAT about 1187.
What do graduates of Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona earn?
Median earnings are $55,620 six years after entry and $63,435 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona?
The 150%-time completion rate is 16.5% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $25,000.
How big is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona?
Total enrollment is about 2,367 students in the latest reporting year.
Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona public or private?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona is a public institution located in Altoona, PA.
Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona an HBCU?
No. Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona a tribal college?
No. Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona does not meet that proxy (reported share 9.5%).
Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
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
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 for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.