Penn State Altoona Admission Requirements

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Altoona, PA
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Penn State Altoona Admission Overview

Penn State Altoona admission requirements are summarized from last year's class. Last year Penn State Altoona admitted 98.1% of applicants. Enrolled freshmen who sent tests typically scored SAT 1070-1290 / ACT 22-28. Penn State Altoona is test-optional, so you choose whether to send SAT or ACT. Those figures describe last year's class, not a score you must hit.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Penn State Altoona is test-optional. You choose whether to send SAT or ACT.

Source: IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Penn State Altoona Acceptance Rate

Admission Rate & Difficulty

Acceptance rate

98.1%

Admission Standards

Challenging

Applicant Competition

Very Low

Low

Average

High

Very High

Extreme

Acceptance Rate

The Penn State Altoona acceptance rate is 98.1%. Last year, 8,283 of 8,447 applicants were admitted. That is the 115th lowest acceptance rate in Pennsylvania.

Admission Selectivity

How hard is it to get into Penn State Altoona and can you get accepted?

Penn State Altoona is an easy school to get into, admitting most applicants. You have a very good chance of acceptance if you meet last year's profile.

10% of those admitted chose to enroll.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Penn State Altoona GPA

GPA of enrolled freshmen

Estimated High School GPA

3.4*

Typical High School Grades

B+

Estimated GPA (4.0 Scale) 3.4*

0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0

Average GPA

Penn State Altoona has not published an average GPA for enrolled freshmen. CollegeSimply estimates about a 3.4 GPA (B+) on a 4.0 scale, based on this school's test scores and GPA data from similar colleges. That is an estimate, not a school-reported average. Penn State Altoona is test-optional. If you withhold SAT or ACT, GPA carries more weight.

See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 3.4 GPA range.

*3.4 is a CollegeSimply estimate, not a school-reported average. It is modeled from this school's test scores and GPA data from similar colleges.

Penn State Altoona SAT Scores

SAT scores of enrolled freshmen

SAT Range

1070-1290

Freshmen who sent SAT

24%

25th Percentile Scores

Reading 530
Math 540
Composite 1070

75th Percentile Scores

Reading 650
Math 640
Composite 1290

Average SAT

Enrolled testers at Penn State Altoona typically score around a 1180 SAT (middle 50% 1070–1290) out of 1600. That is last year's class, not a cutoff. The average SAT of enrolled testers is about the 73rd percentile nationally. Penn State Altoona ranks #49 in the state of Pennsylvania for highest average SAT composite score.

SAT Range (25th-75th Percentile) 1070 to 1290

800 1000 1200 1400 1600

SAT policy

Penn State Altoona is test-optional. You choose whether to send SAT. If you send a score, it is considered.

View other colleges which accept students in the 1180 SAT score range.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

How SAT scores compare with last year's enrolled testers

This table compares SAT ranges with last year's enrolled testers and the school's acceptance rate. It is not a personal chance of admission. If you withhold SAT, skip this table.

SAT ranges vs last year's enrolled testers at Penn State Altoona
SAT Score (1600 scale)	Competitiveness	Admission Chances
1290+	Above 75th	>99%
1180 to 1290	Avg +	98%-99%
1070 to 1180	Avg -	96%-98%
Below 1070	Below mid-50	<96%

What do these figures mean?

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Penn State Altoona ACT Scores

ACT scores among enrolled freshmen

ACT Range

22-28

Freshmen reporting ACT

25th Percentile Scores

English 20
Math 18
Composite 22

75th Percentile Scores

English 26
Math 27
Composite 28

Average ACT

Incoming testers at Penn State Altoona typically have around a 25 ACT (mid-50 22–28) on the 36 scale. That reflects last year's enrolled testers, not a cutoff. That average sits near the 78th percentile of ACT takers nationwide. Penn State Altoona places #36 among colleges in Pennsylvania for highest average ACT composite.

ACT Range (25th-75th Percentile) 22 to 28

1 9 18 27 36

ACT policy

You may apply to Penn State Altoona without ACT. A score you do send is still reviewed.

See colleges with similar ACT profiles in the 25.0 ACT score range.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

How ACT scores compare with last year's enrolled testers

This table compares ACT ranges with last year's enrolled testers and the school's acceptance rate. They are not your individual odds. If you leave ACT off your application, you can skip this table.

ACT bands compared with last year's enrolled testers at Penn State Altoona
ACT Score (36 scale)	Competitiveness	Admission Chances
28+	Above 75th	>99%
25 to 28	Avg +	98%-99%
22 to 25	Avg -	96%-98%
Below 22	Below mid-50	<96%

How to read these figures

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Estimate How You Compare

See how your GPA and scores compare with last year's enrolled testers. You can mark that you will withhold scores.

Open the Penn State Altoona chances calculator

Applying

Admission Statistics

Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed in the table below.

Penn State Altoona admission statistics
	Women	Men	Total
Applied	4,812	3,575	8,447
Accepted	4,711	3,512	8,283
Acceptance Rate	98%	98%	98%
Enrolled	378	459	850
Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield)	8%	13%	10%

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Application Requirements

What are the requirements for admission to Penn State Altoona and what student information is used for admission decisions?

Penn State Altoona application requirements
Requirement	Used for Admission
Test Scores	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
High School GPA	Required to be considered for admission
High School Class Rank	Not considered for admission, even if submitted
Completion of College Preparatory Program	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted
Recommendations	Not considered for admission, even if submitted
Demonstration of Competencies	Not considered for admission, even if submitted

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Application Fee

The cost for prospective students to apply to Penn State Altoona is $65.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Credits Accepted

High school credits accepted at Penn State Altoona
Credit Type	Accepted
AP Credit	Yes
Dual Credit	Yes
Credit for Life Experiences	No

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Admission summary

Penn State Altoona is test-optional for 2024-25. Last year it admitted 98.1% of applicants. Send SAT/ACT if you are at or above this campus mid-50 (1070-1290); otherwise withhold. Mid-50 scores, where shown, are enrolled testers, not cutoffs.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025