Colleges by Location
Colleges by Fields of Study
Colleges by Tuition Range
Colleges by GPA Range
College by SAT Range
Colleges by ACT Score
Graduate Schools by Location
Graduate Schools by Fields of Study
Graduate School by Degree Type
Paying for Graduate School
Online Graduate Programs
Test Preparation
Career Planning
College Planning
Graduate School Planning
Applying to Graduate School
Engineering Careers
- More

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona
Altoona, PA
Penn State Altoona is a branch campus of the Pennsylvania State University located in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Established in 1939, it offers a wide range of academic programs, including undergraduate degrees, certificates, and minors in various fields. The campus is spread over 37 acres and is home to around 3,500 students.
Penn State Altoona provides a vibrant learning environment with a focus on hands-on learning, research opportunities, and community engagement. The faculty consists of accomplished scholars who are dedicated to teaching and mentoring students. The campus offers 18 bachelor's degrees that cover disciplines such as business, engineering, communications, arts, and sciences. Additionally, students have the opportunity to enhance their education through internships, cooperative education programs, and study abroad experiences.
Beyond academics, Penn State Altoona offers a robust campus life with a variety of student organizations, clubs, and activities. The campus has a student center equipped with amenities like a fitness center, gaming area, computer labs, and study spaces. Students can also participate in NCAA Division III athletics or enjoy recreational activities like hiking and biking on the trails surrounding the campus. With its commitment to academic excellence, inclusive environment, and comprehensive support services, Penn State Altoona offers students a well-rounded college experience.
Penn State Altoona is a public comprehensive higher education institution located in Altoona, PA and set in a suburban environment. This institution follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 97%. The freshman retention rate at Penn State Altoona is 77.1% and the six-year graduation rate is 64%.
Explore this school's profile to find out the most important things about Penn State Altoona.
Quick Facts
2,421
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
97%
Acceptance Rate
12:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
64%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to learn as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the school in order to maximize your chances of being accepted. Read on to learn some relevant info about admission policy and requirements at Penn State Altoona.
According to the most recent data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 6,933 in 2024. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is very difficult to get into. This prominent institution with a rich history offers an unparalleled learning experience to its students.
Test Scores
27.24% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 3.03% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 5.13% of the enrolled students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 36.32% between 1,200 and 1,399, 49.57% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 8.97% between 800 and 999. The percent of incoming freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 12, 42 between 24-29, 38 in the range between 18-23, and 8 between 12-17.
The ACT composite average score for all the admitted students in 2024 was 23 while the average GPA was 3.29. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Penn State Altoona; the same goes for your ACT score.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 545 for the enrolled first-year students, while the average SAT Math score was 550.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.
The freshman retention rate for Penn State Altoona was 77.1% in 2024, reflecting the superb quality of the educational programs at this institution.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This metric measures how efficiently students complete their degrees within a specific time period. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 64%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Deciding if a school is the best fit for you is not an easy task. Gaining a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at Penn State Altoona in 2024 was 2,421.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 29.64% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 2,421, 111 of which were foreign students. The number of transfer students at this school was 95.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 1,263 male and 1,071 female full-time students in 2024.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
This school had 104 Asian students and 154 Afro-American students in 2024. 187 undergraduates at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 85 identified with more than one race. The school also had 2 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 2 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 22 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before submitting an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into consideration. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for Penn State Altoona is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
For the students who live in the area, the tuition cost was $15,388, as reported by public county or municipal institutions. For out-of-state students, tuition fees amounted to $26,374. Tuition costs at Penn State Altoona for international students totalled $26,374.
Tuition | Fees | Total | |
---|---|---|---|
Out-of-State | $26,374 | Not Available | $ 26,374 |
In-State | $15,388 | Not Available | $15,388 |
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for room and board?
At Penn State Altoona, the 2024 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $14,474. If you only needed a dormitory room, you had to pay $6,154 for the 2024 academic year.
Tuition | $ 15,388 |
Room and Board | $ 14,474 |
Total Expense | $ 29,862 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all types of financial aid for students. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid you might get at Penn State Altoona.
According to the most recent data, 550 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $12,565.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet some eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
772 students secured some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Penn State Altoona isn't available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was found to be 1,573. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution was $3,948,230, and state $2,293,715. The students of Penn State Altoona received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $5,719,531, and external in the amount of $741,541.
$4,856
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
1,311 students, including freshmen, obtained institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this school in 2024. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 466 full-time freshmen. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $3,948,230 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $112,224. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $1,282,388. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $358,184 USD.
Majors
Faculty
12:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Penn State Altoona was 12:1: that means 12 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 225. This number included 110 male and 115 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Penn State Altoona.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Penn State Altoona: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Find out some information about campus life at Penn State Altoona.
Student Organizations
Engaging with a variety of student organizations can enrich your educational experience and make it more rewarding.
There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. You have a talent for media and communication? Penn State Altoona publishes its own newspaper.
Student Services
At Penn State Altoona, there are many amenities required for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. There is a security patrol that operates 24 hours a day. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
All in all, campus life at Penn State Altoona is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
FAQ
-
Penn State Altoona is located in Altoona, PA.
-
Penn State Altoona doesn't offer need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
-
This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
-
The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Penn State Altoona is 97%.
-
The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Penn State Altoona is 77.1%.
Contact Information
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona,
3000 Ivyside Park
Altoona, PA
16601
814 949-5000
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
Find the best schools for you.
Need help with choosing grad school? We got you.
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.