Public
Accredited · Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Altoona, Pennsylvania
97.3% Acceptance Rate
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
97.3%Acceptance Rate
3.4Avg GPA
1163Avg SAT
25Avg ACT
$31,725Annual Cost
$63,435Grad Salary
25.8%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
97.3%
Avg GPA
3.4
Avg SAT
1163
Avg ACT
25
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Branch Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
1050–1260
ACT Middle 50%
22–27
Avg Net Price
$24,704
Need-Based Aid
25.8% receive Pell
Penn State Altoona, established in 1939, is a comprehensive residential college of Penn State University located on 174 acres in the Allegheny Mountains. Altoona offers 20+ bachelor's degrees that can be completed locally, plus the first two years of all Penn State majors. The campus features state-of-the-art facilities including the Sheetz Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence and the Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts, maintaining a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Altoona's bachelor's degrees are awarded by Penn State University.
Altoona's location provides internship opportunities in healthcare, manufacturing, and transportation industries. The Lions compete in NCAA Division III athletics in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference. The campus's Rail Transportation Engineering program is unique in North America, while its Ivyside Eats culinary program serves the community. Altoona's proximity to Penn State's University Park campus allows for easy transition for students changing campuses.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona Acceptance Rate
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona (Penn State) runs an open-access admission policy. With a 97.3% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in. They are worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 97.3% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.40 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.20 – 3.39
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.95
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline, though the priority deadline of November 1 is recommended for the best chances of admission and financial aid.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 85 days left — Priority Freshman
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
Penn State reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
Priority Freshman
November 1
Decision by: December 24
💡 The scholarship deadline (November 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Penn State GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Penn State is 3.4. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 3.10–3.4 range, a high SAT or ACT score still carries real weight.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently. For an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.60–3.80.Penn State GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective; solid academic performance is expected.
Recommended Strategy: Focus on a Strong 'Spike' in extracurriculars or research.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.40 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.20 – 3.39
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.00 – 3.19
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.99
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Applicants choose both a first-choice and alternate-choice campus; Penn State only reviews the alternate application if not admitted to the first choice, and more than half of Penn State students begin at a Commonwealth campus like Altoona.
- Entrance-to-Major (ETM) requirements are identical at University Park and Commonwealth campuses; moving to the ending campus after "fifth semester standing" requires meeting ETM benchmarks and a change-of-campus process, not a new application.
- Penn State remains test-optional through the Fall 2026 entering class (recently reconfirmed, though national testing-policy trends are shifting - check for updates on the 2027 cycle); the personal statement is optional but strongly recommended.
- Penn State Altoona has two physical locations - the Ivyside campus (academics, housing, athletics) and the Downtown Campus (specialized labs, entrepreneurship center) - offering 21 baccalaureate degrees on-site with access to Penn State's 275+ majors through the 2+2 plan.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Penn State
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona (Penn State) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Penn State is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Penn State Without SAT or ACT?
Penn State considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona Average SAT Score: 1163
The average SAT score of admitted students at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona is 1163 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1163 — Less Competitive
This average is slightly below the national mean SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1260 SAT or 27 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1050, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Penn State. Retaking multiple times is completely normal. Most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 575 | 520 | 630 |
| SAT Reading | 580 | 530 | 630 |
| SAT Composite | 1163 | 1050 | 1260 |
Below 1050, you're behind most admitted students; at 1260 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1150
Can I get into Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona (Penn State) with a 1250 SAT?
A 1250 SAT puts you ahead of most of Penn State's admitted class, but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona (Penn State) ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at Penn State is 25.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 25 — Slightly Competitive
This sits close to the national average ACT score.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 22 | 18 | 25 |
| ACT English | 23 | 20 | 25 |
| ACT Composite | 25 | 22 | 27 |
Can I get into Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona with a 27 ACT?
A 27 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of Penn State's admitted students. That's a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several that admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science, each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section, especially Science at STEM-focused schools, stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at Penn State.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Penn State
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Penn State provides an open gateway to higher education. Success here is about using available resources well and planning your longer-term academic or career path.
Choose Your Alternate Campus as Strategically as Your First Choice
Penn State only reviews the application for the alternate-choice campus if the applicant isn't admitted to their first choice, and more than half of Penn State students begin at a Commonwealth campus like Altoona. A student targeting a competitive University Park major should research Altoona specifically - not list it as a throwaway alternate - since that's very possibly where they'll actually spend their first two years.
Track Entrance-to-Major (ETM) Requirements From Day One
The requirements to enter a specific Penn State major are identical whether starting at University Park or Altoona, and a Commonwealth-campus student must meet those ETM requirements AND complete two full years of credits ("fifth semester standing") before requesting a change of campus. Meet with the academic adviser at least once per semester specifically to check ETM progress for the target major - falling short of ETM benchmarks, not general GPA, is what actually blocks the campus change.
Time the Change-of-Campus Process Around the Fourth Semester
The change-of-campus process doesn't require reapplying, but for most students it happens during the fourth semester (end of year two) to transition to the ending campus for year three. Align course sequencing and ETM completion specifically around that fourth-semester window, since missing it can delay a planned move to University Park or another campus by a full semester or more.
Use the Optional Personal Statement Deliberately if Not Applying via Common App
Penn State's personal statement is optional but strongly recommended; if applying via Common App, the Common App essay automatically serves as the PSU personal statement. A student applying through Penn State's own application (not Common App) shouldn't skip the optional essay by default, since it's one of the few personalized, qualitative pieces of an otherwise numbers-heavy file - particularly relevant for competitive ETM majors like nursing, business, or engineering down the line.
Expert Insight:
Families sometimes treat the alternate-choice campus as a throwaway box to check, assuming they'll get their first choice, when a large share of admitted students actually end up starting at their alternate campus under the 2+2 plan. Students who didn't genuinely research their listed alternate - and just picked a familiar name - can find themselves committed to two years at a campus they know nothing about, with real consequences for the ETM sequencing needed to reach their intended major on schedule.
Penn State Profile
Full Name
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona (Penn State)
City
Altoona
State
Pennsylvania
ZIP Code
16601-3777
Type
Public
Campus
Branch Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)
Is a Penn State Degree Worth It?
Whether Penn State is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals. Here's the data to weigh it against.
The average household income among admitted students is $63,400, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.15%.
How much does a degree from Penn State Cost?
The sticker price is $31,725/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is closer to $24,704.
25.8% of students receive a Pell Grant and 55.4% take federal loans at Penn State. File your FAFSA early and list Penn State as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Penn State Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $63,435. That's about 56% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon College | Montgomery, AL | 1148 | 23 |
| University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL | 1119 | 23 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, AL | 1121 | 22 |
| Arkansas State University | Jonesboro, AR | 1119 | 22 |
| University of Central Arkansas | Conway, AR | 1117 | 22 |
| University of La Verne | La Verne, CA | 1116 | 22 |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | Denver, CO | 1119 | 24 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, CO | 1140 | 25 |
| Western Colorado University | Gunnison, CO | 1130 | 25 |
| Lynn University | Boca Raton, FL | 1136 | 25 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
| Florida International University | Miami, FL | 1154 | 23 |
| Toccoa Falls College | Toccoa Falls, GA | 1155 | 23 |
| Chaminade University of Honolulu | Honolulu, HI | 1155 | NA |
| University of Hawaii at Manoa | Honolulu, HI | 1157 | 24 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham, AL | 1197 | 24 |
| University of Mobile | Mobile, AL | 1220 | 24 |
| Samford University | Birmingham, AL | 1203 | 26 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | 1222 | 26 |
| Ouachita Baptist University | Arkadelphia, AR | 1212 | 25 |
Degree Programs at Penn State
Bachelor Degree Programs
Associate Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Penn State Admissions
Median graduate earnings at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona run about $63,435 a year.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona costs roughly $31,725 a year, and most students combine this with scholarships or aid.
About 25.8% receive a Pell Grant at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona. The odds are moderate and largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 97.3%, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona average a 3.4 GPA.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 3.1 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona becomes a harder reach, though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona — aim above 1163, ideally within the 1050–1260 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona is November 1. Admission decisions are released by December 24. Rolling Admissions is also offered, so applying early improves your chances.
The application fee is 65. Fee waivers may be available. Check with admissions.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is November 1, 2026. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes, transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most, along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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