Penn State Altoona Admissions

Penn State Altoona Admissions Overview:

Penn State Altoona admits the large majority of applicants each year; in 2016, the school admitted 89% of those who applied. Students will need to submit SAT or ACT scores, as well as high school transcripts and an application. For more information about applying, and to schedule a visit to the campus, prospective students should contact the admissions office.

Admissions Data (2016):

• Penn State Altoona Acceptance Rate: 89%
• Test Scores -- 25th / 75th Percentile
  • SAT Critical Reading: 440 / 540
  • SAT Math: 460 / 570
  • SAT Writing: - / -
    • What these SAT numbers mean
  • ACT Composite: 20 / 24
  • ACT English: 18 / 24
  • ACT Math: 19 / 25
  • ACT Writing: - / -
    • What these ACT numbers mean

Penn State Altoona Description:

Penn State Altoona is the third largest of the 24 campuses that make up the Pennsylvania State University. Penn State Altoona is a four-year, public, residential college located less than an hour from the main Penn State campus at University Park. The campus sits about midway between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh. Students can choose from 21 baccalaureate degrees and 6 associate degrees. Professional fields including business, engineering and nursing are most popular at the baccalaureate level. Academics are supported by a 17 to 1 student / faculty ratio. Student life is active with over 90 clubs and organizations including fraternities and sororities, music ensembles, academic honor societies, and a student-run newspaper. Penn State Altoona also offers an wide variety of club sports such as Outdoor Adventure Club, Ultimate Frisbee, and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. On the intercollegiate level, the Penn State Altoona Nittany Lions compete in the NCAA Division III Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference. The university fields 17 varsity teams and has won conference championships in golf, baseball, softball, and women's volleyball.

Enrollment (2016):

• Total Enrollment: 3,491 (all undergraduates)
• Gender Breakdown: 55% Male / 45% Female
• 96% Full-time

Costs (2016 - 17):

• Tuition and Fees: $14,828 (in-state); $22,834 (out-of-state)
• Books: $1,840 (why so much?)
• Room and Board: $11,230
• Other Expenses: $4,788
• Total Cost: $32,686 (in-state); $40,692 (out-of-state)

Penn State Altoona Financial Aid (2015 - 16):

• Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 83%
• Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
  • Grants: 57%
  • Loans: 70%
• Average Amount of Aid
  • Grants: $7,426
  • Loans: $8,809

Academic Programs:

• Most Popular Majors: Business, Criminal Justice, Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology, Elementary Education, Nursing

Graduation and Retention Rates:

• First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 83%
• 4-Year Graduation Rate: 45%
• 6-Year Graduation Rate: 69%

Intercollegiate Athletic Programs:

• Men's Sports: Swimming, Volleyball, Golf, Soccer, Basketball, Baseball, Tennis
• Women's Sports: Bowling, Volleyball, Softball, Tennis, Cross Country, Swimming, Tennis

Data Source:

National Center for Educational Statistics

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