Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona

Altoona, PA · NortheastQuad's selectivityOpen

Known forMost who leave go on to another collegeTest-optional heavy

Admissions · Fall 2024

10 in 10 applicants admitted

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona admits about 10 in 10 applicants (98%). That puts it in the "Open" tier, more selective than 6% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

98%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityOpen

Applied

8,447

Admitted

8,283

Yield

10%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1070–1290

10001600

ACT middle 50%

22–28

1836

Applications +50% since fall 2014 · admit rate 88% → 98%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 2,367 undergrads, where 29% receive Pell Grants, a typical share compared to other colleges.

2.4K

undergrads · larger than 62% of colleges

Diversity index

0.51

Pell Grant

29%

below the median

First generation

29%

below the median

Small cityNCAA D-III · Allegheny Mountain Collegiate ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research

More diverse · index 0.41 → 0.51 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Other (27% of graduates). 13 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 50% of colleges. 77% of faculty are full-time. Spends $3,624 a year on instruction per student.

13 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 50% of colleges

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $32,194 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $7.9K more than the national median. The 78% who received grants paid $21,618 on average; the other 22% paid the full sticker price of $36,392 in-state / $47,116 out-of-state.

21%

$32.2K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $7.9K above the national median

Full price, in-state: $36,392 a year; tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid: Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes

Aid generosity

Limited

grants cover 21% of full price

Federal loans

54%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits

Cost falling · −10% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $63,435 ten years after enrolling, more than at 75% of colleges; 17% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.0 years of that salary.

17%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$63.4K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$25K

≈ $265/month for 10 years

Retention

80%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 65% → 17% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price fell 5% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 10%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 50% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 88% to 98%.

Cost
Falling
−10% after inflation
Applications
Growing
+50%
Selectivity
Less selective
admit rate 88% → 98%
Diversity
More diverse
index 0.41 → 0.51

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

1
IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
2
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12
3
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
4
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
12
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
13
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
14
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
15
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
16
IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
17
IPEDS Outcome Measures survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

IPEDS unit ID 214689 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything