Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and students who prefer a mid-size campus. graduation rate is below 25% — most students don't finish here. solid earnings of $57,200 within 10 years.
About This School
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona is a public institution located in Altoona, Pennsylvania with approximately 2,367 undergraduate students enrolled. Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 98%. The average net price after financial aid is $22,213 per year. The graduation rate is 17%, and the typical graduate earns $57,200 within 10 years of enrollment.
Penn State Altoona is a public satellite campus of Pennsylvania State University located in Logan Township, Pennsylvania. It is one of four four-year institutions in the university's Commonwealth Campus network. The full-time student count was 2,577 in 2023.
Students who want the Penn State name and experience at a smaller, more affordable campus will find a lot to like here — this is a genuinely good fit for first-generation students, those who need a slower transition to college life, or families watching their budget closely. The average net price of $22,213 per year is reasonable for a Penn State degree, and median earnings of $57,200 a decade out suggest graduates do land on their feet professionally. That said, the graduation rate is a serious concern — at just 17%, this school struggles to get students across the finish line, and you need to ask hard questions about why before committing. The 80% freshman retention rate tells a somewhat better story, suggesting students stick around after year one, but something is clearly disrupting their path to graduation after that. My advice: if you're strongly self-motivated and have a plan for staying on track, this campus can be a smart, affordable entry point into Penn State — but go in with your eyes open and ask the admissions office directly about academic support and transfer patterns.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 17% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona graduates earn most above the national rate in Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management ($98,637 vs $85,063 nationally), and most below it in Civil Engineering ($81,403 vs $86,517).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 72 | $91,032 | $88,910 | +$2,122 |
| Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians | 32 | $81,835 | $84,304 | −$2,469 |
| Business/Commerce, General | 27 | $65,292 | $68,407 | −$3,115 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 25 | $53,362 | $47,382 | +$5,980 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 16 | $56,877 | $55,378 | +$1,499 |
| Psychology, General | 14 | $49,543 | $50,706 | −$1,163 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 12 | $67,399 | $54,562 | +$12,837 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 11 | $88,192 | $76,194 | +$11,998 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 10 | $45,943 | $48,568 | −$2,625 |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 9 | $98,637 | $85,063 | +$13,574 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 9 | $55,505 | $56,359 | −$854 |
| Civil Engineering | 8 | $81,403 | $86,517 | −$5,114 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2,367 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Address
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona
3000 Ivyside Park
Altoona, PA 16601-3777
Official Links
Schools Like This in Pennsylvania
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Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks
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Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College
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Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg
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See How Colleges Compare
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona has an acceptance rate of 98%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona hard to get into?
Not especially. Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona has an acceptance rate of 98%, so admissions are relatively accessible for applicants who meet the requirements.
How much does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona cost?
The average net price at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona is about $22,213 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona has a graduation rate of 17%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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