Penn State Altoona

5/10 Overall Rating
4 Year
Altoona, PA
0 reviews

#8 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania

Overview Admission Cost Majors Diversity Outcomes Salaries Location Compare Reviews Admission Calculator

Overview

Total enrollment

2,371

Location Altoona, Pennsylvania
Website psu.edu
Type Public 4 Year
Setting Small City

Size Small
Status Non-profit
Housing Yes
Level of Study Undergrad

Penn State Altoona, located in the city of Altoona in central Pennsylvania's Blair County, operates as a commonwealth campus of the Pennsylvania State University system. The 171-acre campus, situated at the base of the Allegheny Mountains, combines historic buildings with modern academic facilities and residential halls. Originally established in 1939 as the Altoona Undergraduate Center, the institution now serves as a comprehensive four-year college while also offering the first two years of study for most Penn State majors through the 2+2 program. The campus provides complete bachelor's degrees in business, communications, criminal justice, and engineering, among other fields, with many students choosing to transition to University Park to complete their degrees. Student housing is available in three residence halls, and the campus fields athletic teams in the NCAA Division III as the Penn State Altoona Lions.

See my Chances for Admission

Ratings

Penn State Altoona is rated within the lower 48% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 5 out of 10.

Overall Rating

5 out of 10
Academics

6 out of 10
Resources

3 out of 10
Outcomes

7 out of 10
Value

3 out of 10

Learn how ratings are calculated

Rankings

Rankings for Penn State Altoona within the 2027 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.

Best Colleges in the U.S.

#604
Best Public Colleges in the U.S.

#196
Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

#54
Best Public Colleges in Pennsylvania

#8
Best Value Colleges in Pennsylvania

#106

Learn how rankings are calculated

Admissions

Admission Standards

Challenging

SAT (enrolled mid-50) 1070/1290
ACT (enrolled mid-50) 22/28

Acceptance Rate

98.1%

Applications Due -
Enrollment Rate 10.3%
Application Fee $65

Applicant Competition Very Low

Very Low

Low

Average

High

Very High

Extreme

View Admission Requirements

Annual Cost to Attend

Pennsylvania Resident Tuition

$15,972

Out of State Resident Tuition

$26,958

Breakdown

Tuition $15,972
Books and Supplies $1,200
Other Fees $584
Room and Board $14,474
Budget for Other Expenses $5,020
Total One Year Cost $37,250

View Tuition & Financial Aid Details

Student Outcomes

Average Salary After 10 Years

$55,300 per year

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate

65% within 6 years

View Post Graduation Outcomes

Popular Areas of Study

Popular majors at Penn State Altoona are Health Professions, Business, and Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting. 19% of students major in Health Professions, 17% in Business, and 13% in Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting.