Altoona, PA · Public · 2,367 undergraduates · urban
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona
Less selective
Penn State Altoona offers complete degree programs alongside a pathway to begin other Penn State majors before transitioning to another campus.
Institutional profile
Regionally focused Strongest in career outcomes and affordability.- Admission
- 97.3% admitted
- Price by income
- Resident and nonresident prices differ
- Completion
- 16.5%
7,134 applicants in the reported year
Compare recent average annual costs by household income
$63,435 median earnings 10 years after enrollment
What sets Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona apart
Academic design
Students can finish selected degrees in Altoona or start many other Penn State majors there and complete them elsewhere in the university system.
Campus pattern
The Ivyside campus combines a reflecting pond and wooded grounds with arts programming, recreation, student organizations and community events.
Career & value signal
Its dual academic role—degree-granting campus and starting point for broader Penn State majors—gives students unusual flexibility within one university system.
Can I get in?
97.3% admitted
Start with the academic record, then make the intended direction and school-specific fit concrete.
Recent applicant pool
7,134About 97 in every 100 applicants were admitted.
Academic range
Of admitted students, 27% submitted an SAT, and 3% submitted an ACT. Because ACT scores came from few admitted students, the range describes that self-selected group rather than the full class.
In the season card
Where your GPA sits in the entering class
The full entering-class GPA distribution for Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona, in nine bands from 4.0 down, with your own record marked on it.
See where I landIn the season card
What Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona weighs when it reads a file
See how this college describes the role of grades, testing, essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest.
- Course rigor
- GPA
- Test scores
- Essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurriculars
- Demonstrated interest
What moves the application
The evidence that separates a strong file
Show preparation for this curriculum
Students can finish selected degrees in Altoona or start many other Penn State majors there and complete them elsewhere in the university system.
Make institutional fit specific
Penn State Altoona offers complete degree programs alongside a pathway to begin other Penn State majors before transitioning to another campus.
Use the application route carefully
Keep academic direction and school-specific choices coherent across the application.
How to apply
Rounds, route, and required materials
Build the calendar around the earliest realistic application round and assemble each required item once.
Fee waiver: u.s. only
Major and program admission
Some fields have their own entry path.
The college admit rate above covers the university as a whole. These requirements apply only to the named program.
NursingAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
Can I afford it?
Compare annual cost by household income.
Start with the average net price for your income range, then set that estimate beside your other realistic options.
In the season card
Average annual cost by household income at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona
Compare recent average net prices across five federal income ranges and estimate a 4-year cost for yours.
- $0–30k
- $30–48k
- $48–75k
- $75–110k
- $110k+
Is it worth it?
Completion, debt, and earnings
Read completion, borrowing, field mix, and earnings together. One university-wide earnings figure does not describe every student path.
Degree completion across the reported entering cohort
First-year students who return for year two
And what that comes to against what they earn.
Reported 10 years after enrollment
Academic portfolio
Largest bachelor’s fields
How many students finish in each field, and median earnings four years after completing the program.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
Admits separately
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians
Business/Commerce, General
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
Criminal Justice and Corrections
What is campus life like?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona beyond the classroom
The Ivyside campus combines a reflecting pond and wooded grounds with arts programming, recreation, student organizations and community events.
A defining academic feature
Students can finish selected degrees in Altoona or start many other Penn State majors there and complete them elsewhere in the university system.
What shapes an ordinary week
The Ivyside campus combines a reflecting pond and wooded grounds with arts programming, recreation, student organizations and community events.
Where the degree can lead
Its dual academic role—degree-granting campus and starting point for broader Penn State majors—gives students unusual flexibility within one university system.