Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona
Altoona, Pennsylvania · Public · 2,367 undergraduates · altoona.psu.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
97%
of 10,081 applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1120 to 1290
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$38,850Est.Estimate
$50,840 out of state
Your chances and merit aid at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
97% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored, and your GPA is in the middle half of freshmen's.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$50,840
a year in 2027-28, from a $50,840 sticker price (out of state)
What to do with your 1210
Send your score
About 77% of freshmen here didn't send a score. We estimate their typical SAT at about 1050, and yours is above it.
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- Doesn't superscore: it uses the scores from one test date.
- You can type your scores into the application; official reports come later.
- Reviews applications as they arrive, so applying early helps.
Source: How to Apply | Penn State Undergraduate Admissions · Checked October 17, 2026
Application deadlines
- Nov1Early Action · November 1, 2026Apply early and hear early. Not binding.
- Dec1Priority deadline · December 1, 2026Apply by this date for the best chance at admission and scholarships.
Who gets in
97%
of applicants were admitted: 9,753 of 10,081 for fall 2025.
Early Action
Not binding. Apply by 11/01, hear by 12/24.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen (fall 2025)
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above. 21% of them sent SAT scores and 2.1% sent ACT scores.
SAT total 1120 to 1290
Reading and Writing 560 to 660
Math 550 to 653
ACT composite 26 to 30
How enrolled freshmen scored on the SAT
- 1400 to 16005%
- 1200 to 139950%
- 1000 to 119940%
- 800 to 9995%
- 600 to 7990%
- 400 to 5990%
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
High school GPA of enrolled freshmen
Average GPA: 3.24
- 4.04%
- 3.75 to 3.9917%
- 3.50 to 3.7415%
- 3.25 to 3.4916%
- 3.00 to 3.2417%
- 2.50 to 2.9922%
- Below 2.509%
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$38,850
a year, in state
$50,840
a year, out of state (tuition $27,820)
- Tuition (in state)$15,830
- Fees$650
- Food and housing$15,530
- Books and supplies$1,330
- Transportation and other$5,510
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona published $37,756 in state for 2026-27. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24 (in-state students), by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$15,732
- $30,001 to $48,000$16,221
- $48,001 to $75,000$15,559
- $75,001 to $110,000$19,953
- Over $110,000$29,007
Financial aid
66%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$7,947
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
14%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $5,577 on average
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Not required. Only the FAFSA is needed.
- Aid priority date: February 15 recommended
- Send your aid forms by this date to be first in line for the college's grant money.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
37 of 38
Earn credit with a score of 3
15 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $1,580Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition for in-state students
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | |
| 3-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | |
| African American Studies | 4 | 3 | AFAM 110 |
| Art History | 3 | 3 | ArtH 100 |
| Art History | 4 | 3 | Art History 112 |
| Biology | 4 | 4 | Biology 011 and Biology 012 |
| Biology | 5 | 4 | Biology 110 |
| Calculus AB | 4 | 4 | Mathematics 140 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 4 | Math 140 |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 8 | Math 140, 141 |
| Chemistry | 4 | 4 | Chemistry 110, 111, |
| Chemistry | 5 | 8 | Chemistry 110, 111, 112, and 113 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | Chinese 001, 002 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | 12 | Chinese 001, 002, 003 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | |
| Computer Science A | 4 | 3 | |
| Computer Science Principles | 4 | 3 | |
| Drawing | 3 | 3 | |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | Student is invited by the English Department to schedule English 030--Honors Freshman Composition. | |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 3 | English 001 |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 3 | |
| European History | 4 | 3 | |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 12 | FR 001, 002, 003 |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 15 | FR 001, 002, 003, 201 |
| French Language and Culture | 5 | 18 | FR 001, 002, 003, 201, 202 |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 12 | Ger 001, 002, 003 |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 16 | Ger 001, 002, 003, 201 |
| German Language and Culture | 5 | 19 | German Ger 001, 002, 003, 201, 302W |
| Human Geography | 3 | 3 | Geog 020 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | Italian 001 and Italian 002 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | 12 | Italian 001, 002, and 003 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | 12 | |
| Latin | 4 | 4 | LATIN 101 |
| Latin | 5 | 8 | LATIN 101 and 102 |
| Macroeconomics | 4 | 3 | Economics 104 |
| Microeconomics | 4 | 3 | Economics 102 |
| Music Theory | 3 | 3 | Music 008 |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 4 | Physics 250 |
| Physics 2 | 4 | 4 | Physics 251 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | 4 | Physics 212 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 4 | Phys 211 |
| Pre-Calculus | 4 | 4 | MATH 41 |
| Psychology | 5 | 3 | Psychology 100 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 12 | Span 001, 002,003 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 15 | Span 001, 002, 003 and 100 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 3 | Spanish 253 |
| Statistics | 3 | 3 | Stat 100 |
| Statistics | 4 | 4 | Stat 200 |
| United States Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | Political Science 001 |
| United States History | 4 | 3 | |
| World History: Modern | 4 | 3 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
16%
Come back for a second year
80%
Typical earnings
$71,762
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona$69,387
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 23 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona. The Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona logo is a trademark of the college.