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Basic Information

Type Public
Geographical Reach Regional
Location Altoona, PA
Population 130,000
Website https://altoona.psu.edu/
Map of the United States

Weather

Comfortable Days 110 (71%)
Sunshine Hours 2,293 (15%)
Days Without Precipitation 235 (26%)

Demographics

Total Undergraduates 2,396
Men / Women 54% / 46%
From State 60%
From Region 17%
Athletes 10.9%

Racial/Ethnic

White 68%
Hispanic 9%
Black 8%
Asian 5%
International 5%
Mixed 4%
Native American 0%

Men in the Entering Class

Men
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Men: 54.5% 54.5% 2012 Men: 53.4% 53.4% 2013 Men: 53.0% 53.0% 2014 Men: 58.1% 58.1% 2015 Men: 56.7% 56.7% 2016 Men: 53.0% 53.0% 2017 Men: 55.1% 55.1% 2018 Men: 54.6% 54.6% 2022 Men: 54.0% 54.0% 2023 Men: 56.0% 56.0% 2024 Men: 54.8% 54.8%

Entering Class by Race & Ethnicity

Native Asian Black Hispanic White International
0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Native: 0.2% 0.2% 2012 Native: 0.1% 0.1% 2013 Native: 0.1% 0.1% 2014 Native: 0.0% 0.0% 2015 Native: 0.1% 0.1% 2016 Native: 0.2% 0.2% 2017 Native: 0.1% 0.1% 2018 Native: 0.2% 0.2% 2022 Native: 0.0% 0.0% 2023 Native: 0.2% 0.2% 2024 Native: 0.1% 0.1% 2011 Asian: 2.7% 2.7% 2012 Asian: 2.7% 2.7% 2013 Asian: 2.0% 2.0% 2014 Asian: 3.2% 3.2% 2015 Asian: 2.3% 2.3% 2016 Asian: 1.4% 1.4% 2017 Asian: 2.9% 2.9% 2018 Asian: 3.1% 3.1% 2022 Asian: 3.5% 3.5% 2023 Asian: 3.3% 3.3% 2024 Asian: 3.1% 3.1% 2011 Black: 9.4% 9.4% 2012 Black: 8.9% 8.9% 2013 Black: 5.1% 5.1% 2014 Black: 8.0% 8.0% 2015 Black: 5.7% 5.7% 2016 Black: 7.6% 7.6% 2017 Black: 8.8% 8.8% 2018 Black: 10.1% 10.1% 2022 Black: 7.1% 7.1% 2023 Black: 5.2% 5.2% 2024 Black: 6.1% 6.1% 2011 Hispanic: 3.5% 3.5% 2012 Hispanic: 2.6% 2.6% 2013 Hispanic: 3.0% 3.0% 2014 Hispanic: 3.7% 3.7% 2015 Hispanic: 3.8% 3.8% 2016 Hispanic: 5.3% 5.3% 2017 Hispanic: 5.1% 5.1% 2018 Hispanic: 4.8% 4.8% 2022 Hispanic: 6.7% 6.7% 2023 Hispanic: 5.1% 5.1% 2024 Hispanic: 4.8% 4.8% 2011 White: 83.6% 83.6% 2012 White: 84.8% 84.8% 2013 White: 89.1% 89.1% 2014 White: 83.8% 83.8% 2015 White: 85.3% 85.3% 2016 White: 81.5% 81.5% 2017 White: 79.1% 79.1% 2018 White: 76.4% 76.4% 2022 White: 71.0% 71.0% 2023 White: 71.0% 71.0% 2024 White: 75.4% 75.4% 2011 International: 0.5% 0.5% 2012 International: 0.9% 0.9% 2013 International: 0.7% 0.7% 2014 International: 1.2% 1.2% 2015 International: 0.5% 0.5% 2016 International: 1.8% 1.8% 2017 International: 1.3% 1.3% 2018 International: 2.3% 2.3% 2022 International: 8.6% 8.6% 2023 International: 11.4% 11.4% 2024 International: 7.3% 7.3%

Share of the full-time first-time degree-seeking cohort. Groups IPEDS reports separately — two or more races, and race unknown — are left out, so the lines don't sum to 100%.

Enrolled Undergraduates by Race & Ethnicity

Native Asian Black Hispanic White International
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2022 Native: 0.1% 0.1% 2023 Native: 0.2% 0.2% 2024 Native: 0.2% 0.2% 2025 Native: 0.3% 0.3% 2022 Asian: 3.8% 3.8% 2023 Asian: 4.2% 4.2% 2024 Asian: 4.3% 4.3% 2025 Asian: 4.8% 4.8% 2022 Black: 7.5% 7.5% 2023 Black: 6.1% 6.1% 2024 Black: 6.4% 6.4% 2025 Black: 7.9% 7.9% 2022 Hispanic: 6.8% 6.8% 2023 Hispanic: 7.4% 7.4% 2024 Hispanic: 7.8% 7.8% 2025 Hispanic: 9.5% 9.5% 2022 White: 74.2% 74.2% 2023 White: 73.3% 73.3% 2024 White: 72.0% 72.0% 2025 White: 68.3% 68.3% 2022 International: 3.7% 3.7% 2023 International: 4.2% 4.2% 2024 International: 4.9% 4.9% 2025 International: 4.8% 4.8%

Share of all full-time degree-seeking undergraduates, not just the entering class. Same excluded groups as above.

IPEDS Admissions (2011–2024), Graduation Rates (2011–2024) and 12-month Enrollment (2020–2025) surveys. Years a college didn't file leave a gap in the line.

Schools & Majors

⇅ Trends Degrees Male/Female Intl Earnings ROI Employment
Division of Engineering 46 96% / 4% 4% $83,909 91 99%
Civil Engineering — — — — $85,573 92 —
Mechanical Engineering 11 — 100% / 0% 0% — — —
Rail Transportation Engineering 9 — 100% / 0% 0% $85,573 92 98%
Electromechanical Engineering Technology 26 — 92% / 8% 8% $83,334 91 100%
⇅ Trends Degrees Male/Female Intl Earnings ROI Employment
Pennsylvania State University - Altoona 271 40% / 60% 1% $75,205 85 95%
Computer and Information Sciences 8 — 88% / 12% 0% $119,380 99 95%
Cybersecurity 7 — 86% / 14% 0% $111,393 99 96%
Information Science/Studies 1 — 100% / 0% 0% — — —
Mathematics 1 — 100% / 0% 0% $88,535 94 93%
Biological and Physical Sciences — — — — $70,783 81 —
Biology 9 — 22% / 78% 0% $69,570 79 94%
Environmental Studies 5 — 60% / 40% 0% $62,009 68 91%
Kinesiology 16 — 69% / 31% 0% $62,038 68 96%
Nursing Administration 84 — 19% / 81% 1% $94,457 96 97%
Accounting 16 — 75% / 25% 0% $91,357 95 97%
General Business 34 — 74% / 26% 9% $65,463 74 94%
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods 1 — 100% / 0% 0% $74,655 84 —
Communication 3 — 67% / 33% 0% $51,740 44 93%
English 4 — 75% / 25% 0% $51,200 42 92%
History 3 — 67% / 33% 0% $48,710 35 96%
Human Development and Family Studies 12 — 8% / 92% 0% $46,763 29 93%
Letters, Arts, and Sciences 2 — 0% / 100% 0% $50,182 39 86%
Political Science 2 — 0% / 100% 0% $72,569 83 93%
Psychology 7 — 14% / 86% 0% $54,549 52 92%
Education 41 — 10% / 90% 0% $55,699 55 94%
Design — — — — $68,726 79 97%
Visual and Performing Arts — — — — $39,301 11 89%
Criminal Justice 1 — 0% / 100% 0% — — —
Criminal Justice 14 — 71% / 29% 0% $57,392 59 95%

Financial

In-State Tuition & Fees $16,780
Out-of-State Tuition & Fees $28,679
Est. In-State Cost $21,707
Est. Out-of-State Cost $37,099
ROI Percentile 86th

Retention & Graduation

Full-Time Retention 80%
4-Year Graduation Rate 12%
6-Year Graduation Rate 16%
Transfer-Out Rate 45%

Six-Year Graduation Rate

Graduated
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Graduated: 63.7% 63.7% 2012 Graduated: 65.9% 65.9% 2013 Graduated: 68.8% 68.8% 2014 Graduated: 64.6% 64.6% 2015 Graduated: 68.2% 68.2% 2016 Graduated: 67.2% 67.2% 2017 Graduated: 64.4% 64.4% 2018 Graduated: 64.1% 64.1% 2022 Graduated: 16.1% 16.1% 2023 Graduated: 17.8% 17.8% 2024 Graduated: 16.5% 16.5%

Students finishing within 150% of normal time. Each year labels the cohort that entered six years earlier — 2024 tracks the class that started in 2018.

Six-Year Graduation Rate by Gender

Men Women
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Men: 60.9% 60.9% 2012 Men: 62.8% 62.8% 2013 Men: 65.1% 65.1% 2014 Men: 61.4% 61.4% 2015 Men: 66.1% 66.1% 2016 Men: 66.4% 66.4% 2017 Men: 61.9% 61.9% 2018 Men: 61.0% 61.0% 2022 Men: 14.2% 14.2% 2023 Men: 14.7% 14.7% 2024 Men: 13.4% 13.4% 2011 Women: 66.9% 66.9% 2012 Women: 69.1% 69.1% 2013 Women: 73.0% 73.0% 2014 Women: 68.3% 68.3% 2015 Women: 71.0% 71.0% 2016 Women: 68.0% 68.0% 2017 Women: 67.2% 67.2% 2018 Women: 67.7% 67.7% 2022 Women: 18.3% 18.3% 2023 Women: 21.7% 21.7% 2024 Women: 20.2% 20.2%

IPEDS reports the cohort as men and women only.

Six-Year Graduation Rate by Race & Ethnicity

Asian Black Hispanic White
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Asian: 60.6% 60.6% 2012 Asian: 60.0% 60.0% 2013 Asian: 69.0% 69.0% 2014 Asian: 66.0% 66.0% 2015 Asian: 63.9% 63.9% 2016 Asian: 55.0% 55.0% 2017 Asian: 66.7% 66.7% 2018 Asian: 65.1% 65.1% 2022 Asian: 2.4% 2.4% 2023 Asian: 14.3% 14.3% 2024 Asian: 8.6% 8.6% 2011 Black: 47.8% 47.8% 2012 Black: 52.7% 52.7% 2013 Black: 64.5% 64.5% 2014 Black: 45.3% 45.3% 2015 Black: 51.1% 51.1% 2016 Black: 66.1% 66.1% 2017 Black: 48.2% 48.2% 2018 Black: 48.6% 48.6% 2022 Black: 12.9% 12.9% 2023 Black: 7.7% 7.7% 2024 Black: 8.7% 8.7% 2011 Hispanic: 61.9% 61.9% 2012 Hispanic: 42.1% 42.1% 2013 Hispanic: 46.7% 46.7% 2014 Hispanic: 50.9% 50.9% 2015 Hispanic: 53.3% 53.3% 2016 Hispanic: 49.4% 49.4% 2017 Hispanic: 60.5% 60.5% 2018 Hispanic: 56.1% 56.1% 2022 Hispanic: 11.2% 11.2% 2023 Hispanic: 6.2% 6.2% 2024 Hispanic: 13.0% 13.0% 2011 White: 65.5% 65.5% 2012 White: 68.0% 68.0% 2013 White: 69.6% 69.6% 2014 White: 66.7% 66.7% 2015 White: 70.5% 70.5% 2016 White: 68.5% 68.5% 2017 White: 66.5% 66.5% 2018 White: 66.7% 66.7% 2022 White: 19.3% 19.3% 2023 White: 22.0% 22.0% 2024 White: 19.4% 19.4%

Each group's completers over its own share of the entering cohort. Groups making up less than 2% of everyone this college graduated over the period are left off — their rates swing on a handful of students and read as noise.

IPEDS Graduation Rates survey, 2011–2024. Years a college didn't file leave a gap in the line.

Earnings by Major Category

Each major category's degree-weighted estimated median 5-year earnings at this college, expressed as a z-score against the national degree-weighted distribution for that category. 0 is the national average. The shaded band between +1.28 and −1.28 marks the central 80% of the national distribution (10th–90th percentile).

Academics

⇅ % Degrees Male/Female Intl Earnings ROI Employment
Health Sciences 31.5% 100 27% / 73% 1% $89,270 94 97%
Business & Economics 16.1% 51 75% / 25% 6% $73,767 84 95%
Education 12.9% 41 10% / 90% 0% $55,699 55 94%
Professional 12.9% 41 83% / 17% 5% $74,254 84 98%
Humanities & Social Sciences 10.4% 33 27% / 73% 0% $51,353 42 92%
Engineering 6.3% 20 100% / 0% 0% $85,573 92 98%
Computer Science 5.0% 16 88% / 12% 0% $115,653 99 96%
Life & Natural Sciences 2.8% 9 22% / 78% 0% $69,570 79 94%
Agriculture & Food Science 1.6% 5 60% / 40% 0% $62,009 68 91%
Physical Sciences & Math 0.3% 1 100% / 0% 0% $88,535 94 93%

Research

⇅ Research $ Rank Federal Industry $ PhDs Rank PhD students Postdocs
Engineering $0.9M #283 40% $0.1M — — — —
Agriculture & Food Science $0.2M #219 20% $0.0M — — — —
Life & Natural Sciences $0.2M #490 33% $0 — — — —
Health Sciences $0.2M #349 0% $0 — — — —
Physical Sciences & Math $0.2M #539 0% $0 — — — —
Humanities & Social Sciences $0.0M #520 0% $0 — — — —
Education $0.0M #428 100% $0 — — — —
Business & Economics $0 #456 — $0 — — — —
Computer Science $0 #525 — $0 — — — —
Total $1.6M #519 28% $0.2M — — — —

Expenditure and funding source: NSF HERD, FY2024. Degrees: IPEDS completions, 2023–24. Students and postdocs: NSF Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates, fall 2024, which covers science, engineering and selected health fields only. An em dash means the source does not report the figure, which is not the same as zero.

Admissions

Uses Common App No
Acceptance Rate 92%
Yield (Unbound) 10%
Regular Decision Jan 1

Acceptance Rates

In-State Out-of-State International
Regular Decision 92% 92% 92%

Acceptance & Yield

Acceptance Yield
0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Acceptance: 77.3% 77.3% 2012 Acceptance: 84.5% 84.5% 2013 Acceptance: 85.2% 85.2% 2014 Acceptance: 88.3% 88.3% 2015 Acceptance: 89.4% 89.4% 2016 Acceptance: 89.5% 89.5% 2017 Acceptance: 92.2% 92.2% 2018 Acceptance: 90.9% 90.9% 2022 Acceptance: 95.8% 95.8% 2023 Acceptance: 97.3% 97.3% 2024 Acceptance: 98.1% 98.1% 2011 Yield: 32.5% 32.5% 2012 Yield: 30.8% 30.8% 2013 Yield: 28.4% 28.4% 2014 Yield: 29.9% 29.9% 2015 Yield: 26.9% 26.9% 2016 Yield: 26.3% 26.3% 2017 Yield: 25.4% 25.4% 2018 Yield: 28.0% 28.0% 2022 Yield: 12.6% 12.6% 2023 Yield: 12.4% 12.4% 2024 Yield: 10.3% 10.3%

Applicants, Admitted & Enrolled

Applicants Admitted Enrolled
0 2,500 5,000 7,500 10,000 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Applicants: 5,739 5,739 2012 Applicants: 6,083 6,083 2013 Applicants: 5,700 5,700 2014 Applicants: 5,630 5,630 2015 Applicants: 5,738 5,738 2016 Applicants: 5,120 5,120 2017 Applicants: 5,430 5,430 2018 Applicants: 4,486 4,486 2022 Applicants: 7,523 7,523 2023 Applicants: 7,134 7,134 2024 Applicants: 8,447 8,447 2011 Admitted: 4,435 4,435 2012 Admitted: 5,138 5,138 2013 Admitted: 4,856 4,856 2014 Admitted: 4,974 4,974 2015 Admitted: 5,129 5,129 2016 Admitted: 4,582 4,582 2017 Admitted: 5,009 5,009 2018 Admitted: 4,077 4,077 2022 Admitted: 7,204 7,204 2023 Admitted: 6,942 6,942 2024 Admitted: 8,283 8,283 2011 Enrolled: 1,441 1,441 2012 Enrolled: 1,585 1,585 2013 Enrolled: 1,379 1,379 2014 Enrolled: 1,487 1,487 2015 Enrolled: 1,379 1,379 2016 Enrolled: 1,203 1,203 2017 Enrolled: 1,274 1,274 2018 Enrolled: 1,141 1,141 2022 Enrolled: 905 905 2023 Enrolled: 859 859 2024 Enrolled: 850 850

IPEDS Admissions survey, 2011–2024. Years a college didn't file leave a gap in the line.

Standardized Tests

Test Policy optional
Submitted Test Scores 27%
SAT Range 1070 – 1290
SAT Math Range 540 – 640
SAT RW Range 530 – 650

SAT Composite

25th 75th
800 1000 1200 1400 1600 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 25th: 900 900 2012 25th: 900 900 2013 25th: 890 890 2014 25th: 900 900 2015 25th: 890 890 2016 25th: 900 900 2017 25th: 1000 1000 2018 25th: 1000 1000 2022 25th: 1050 1050 2023 25th: 1050 1050 2024 25th: 1070 1070 2011 75th: 1100 1100 2012 75th: 1100 1100 2013 75th: 1090 1090 2014 75th: 1100 1100 2015 75th: 1090 1090 2016 75th: 1110 1110 2017 75th: 1180 1180 2018 75th: 1180 1180 2022 75th: 1250 1250 2023 75th: 1260 1260 2024 75th: 1290 1290

SAT Math

25th 75th
450 500 550 600 650 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 25th: 460 460 2012 25th: 460 460 2013 25th: 450 450 2014 25th: 450 450 2015 25th: 450 450 2016 25th: 460 460 2017 25th: 500 500 2018 25th: 500 500 2022 25th: 520 520 2023 25th: 520 520 2024 25th: 540 540 2011 75th: 570 570 2012 75th: 560 560 2013 75th: 560 560 2014 75th: 560 560 2015 75th: 550 550 2016 75th: 570 570 2017 75th: 590 590 2018 75th: 590 590 2022 75th: 620 620 2023 75th: 630 630 2024 75th: 640 640

SAT Reading & Writing

25th 75th
400 500 600 700 800 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 25th: 440 440 2012 25th: 440 440 2013 25th: 440 440 2014 25th: 450 450 2015 25th: 440 440 2016 25th: 440 440 2017 25th: 500 500 2018 25th: 500 500 2022 25th: 530 530 2023 25th: 530 530 2024 25th: 530 530 2011 75th: 530 530 2012 75th: 540 540 2013 75th: 530 530 2014 75th: 540 540 2015 75th: 540 540 2016 75th: 540 540 2017 75th: 590 590 2018 75th: 590 590 2022 75th: 630 630 2023 75th: 630 630 2024 75th: 650 650

Submitting a Test Score

Submitted
0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Submitted: 96.0% 96.0% 2012 Submitted: 98.0% 98.0% 2013 Submitted: 96.0% 96.0% 2014 Submitted: 93.0% 93.0% 2015 Submitted: 97.0% 97.0% 2016 Submitted: 86.0% 86.0% 2017 Submitted: 95.0% 95.0% 2018 Submitted: 95.0% 95.0% 2022 Submitted: 34.0% 34.0% 2023 Submitted: 30.0% 30.0% 2024 Submitted: 27.0% 27.0%

IPEDS Admissions survey, 2011–2024. Years a college didn't file leave a gap in the line. Test-score submission adds SAT and ACT submitters, capped at 100% — a student can send both.