Overview
Enrollment
| Location | Altoona, Pennsylvania |
| Online | psu.edu |
| School Type | Public 4 Year |
| Setting | Small City |
| Size | Small |
| Status | Non-profit |
| On Campus 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.
Ratings
Overall
Academics
Resources
Outcomes
Value
Penn State Altoona is rated within the lower 48% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 5 out of 10. Learn how ratings are calculated
Rankings
Rankings for Penn State Altoona within the 2025 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.
#618 in Best Colleges in the U.S.
#202 in Best Public Colleges in the U.S.
#53 in Best Colleges in Pennsylvania
#8 in Best Public Colleges in Pennsylvania
#122 in Best Value Colleges in Pennsylvania
View the CollegeSimply ranking methodology.
Getting In
Admission Standards
| SAT | 1050/1260 |
| ACT | 22/27 |
| Estimated GPA | 3.4 |
Applications Accepted
| Applications Due | - |
| Applicant Competition | Very Low |
| Application Fee | $65 |
Annual Cost to Attend
Pennsylvania Resident Tuition
| Fee | Cost |
|---|---|
| Books and Supplies | $1,840 |
| Other Fees | $556 |
| Room and Board | $13,820 |
| Budget for Other Expenses | $4,788 |
| Total One Year Cost | $36,392 |
Out of State Resident Tuition
| Fee | Cost |
|---|---|
| Books and Supplies | $1,840 |
| Other Fees | $556 |
| Room and Board | $13,820 |
| Budget for Other Expenses | $4,788 |
| Total One Year Cost | $47,116 |
Outcomes
Average Salary After 10 Years
Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate
Popular Areas of Study
| Subject | Percent of Class |
|---|---|
| Health Professions | 19% |
| Business | 17% |
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting | 13% |
| Engineering | 7% |
| Education | 6% |
Other Colleges to Consider
Students considering Penn State Altoona are frequently interested in these similar colleges.
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=214689 IPEDS survey data for Penn State Altoona.
Current students may use the Penn State Altoona GPA calculator to determine their current college GPA.
Last updated February 24, 2025