Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona
Altoona, Pennsylvania · Public · 98.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 59/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Penn State Altoona scores 59 (Below Average Value) on the CampusROI scale, with a 16.5% completion rate that drags down an otherwise passable earnings picture. Average 6-year earnings are $43,600 against a $22,213 net price, producing an 8-year payback period. Median debt is $25,000 with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.573. The Penn State name carries regional weight in central Pennsylvania, but it does not compensate for the fact that fewer than 1 in 6 students who enroll here finishes a degree. Registered Nursing (72 graduates) is the clear academic standout, with $77,955 first-year earnings and a B+ ROI grade; outside healthcare and tech fields, outcomes are weak across the board.
How Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- 6-year graduation rate16.5% - The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our score, since a degree that is not finished rarely pays back.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $15,972/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $26,958/yr |
| Average net price | $22,213/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $88,852 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $63,435 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $43,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 16.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,367 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $15,972/year ($26,958/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $22,213/year, or roughly $88,852 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $16,017/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $28,263/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,000, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($43,600) and comes to 0.57, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $16,017 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $16,546 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $19,464 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,562 |
| $110,001+ | $28,263 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income families (under $30,000) pay $16,017 net per year - modest in absolute terms, but Altoona's 16.5% completion rate means there is a high probability of accumulating debt without earning a degree. The financial risk is not just the net price but the cost of non-completion. Students in this bracket who choose Altoona should have a clear major, a clear plan, and understand this is not a guaranteed path to a credential.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $19,464 net per year, rising to $23,562 for the $75,001-$110,000 bracket. At these price points, the 8-year payback and 16.5% completion rate represent a genuine financial risk. Families in this range paying $80,000-$94,000 total four-year cost would need to be confident their student will complete, since non-completion leaves debt without earnings.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
High-income families ($110,000+) pay $28,263 net per year - over $113,000 for four years. Average 6-year earnings there are $43,600, and the completion rate is 16.5%.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $91,032 | B+ |
| Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians | $81,835 | B |
| Business Administration and Management | $65,292 | C |
| Teacher Education | $53,362 | C |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $56,877 | C |
| Psychology | $49,543 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $67,399 | D |
| Accounting | $88,192 | B |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $45,943 | D |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration | $98,637 | B |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is Penn State Altoona's strongest program by volume and earnings. With 72 graduates, $77,955 median first-year earnings, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.346 (ROI grade B+), nursing delivers the best risk-adjusted return on campus. Median debt of $27,000 is manageable against immediate RN wages. Nursing graduates enter the regional Pennsylvania healthcare market, where demand remains high and wages are stable. This program is the primary reason to consider Altoona if healthcare is the career target.
Computer and Information Sciences
CS is the highest-earning program on campus, with $84,050 first-year and $120,729 four-year median earnings, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.309 (ROI grade B+). The caveat: only 5 graduates, making the data point statistically fragile. The earnings trajectory is consistent with broader CS labor market norms.
Business Administration and Management
Business Administration enrolls 27 graduates but delivers weak returns: $45,110 first-year, $65,292 at four years, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.599 (ROI grade C). Against $25,000+ median debt and a net price of $22,213 per year, these earnings produce a prolonged payback.
Psychology
Psychology graduates (14) earn $32,408 at year one and $49,543 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.833 (ROI grade D).
Teacher Education
Teacher Education (25 graduates) earns $45,795 at year one and $53,362 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.573 (ROI grade C). These figures reflect typical K-12 teacher wages in Pennsylvania, which are modest but stable. Against $26,263 median debt the payback is slow. Pennsylvania teacher certification requirements are met through Altoona's program, making this a workable path for students committed to education careers in the region.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 76.0% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 79.3% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 74.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 79.7% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 98.1% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 540-640 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 530-650 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 22-28 |
| Enrollment | 2,367 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 29.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,491 |
At 98%, Penn State Altoona is essentially open-access with a moderate SAT profile. The test score range (SAT 530-650 Reading, 540-640 Math) suggests the campus enrolls a wide academic range. This is not a selective admissions environment - admission is rarely the barrier, persistence to graduation is.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Altoona's average 6-year earnings are $43,600.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona (this school) | 59 | $22,213 | $63,435 |
| University of Houston-Victoria | 67 | $8,109 | $54,467 |
| Miami University-Hamilton | 62 | $11,286 | $55,076 |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | 51 | $18,134 | $56,148 |
| Shepherd University | 50 | $11,363 | $49,358 |
| Cheyney University of Pennsylvania | 11 | $14,265 | $37,837 |
Who Thrives Here
Penn State Altoona admits 98% of applicants (SAT mid-range 530-650 Reading, 540-640 Math; ACT 22-28), signaling essentially open access. The 29.4% Pell grant rate reflects a moderately low-income student body. Students intending nursing, computer science, or engineering technology will find specific programs with solid earnings outcomes; students considering general business, liberal arts, communications, or humanities face poor ROI data. The 16.5% completion rate means most students who enroll do not graduate - a serious risk for any student who is not already committed and prepared.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $22,213 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $63,435 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 8 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: its 16.5% graduation rate.
Median debt of $25,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $43,600 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona: Common Questions
Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona scores 59/100 on our ROI scale. At $22,213 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $63,435 ten years after entry, so it takes about 8 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $22,213 a year, or roughly $88,852 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $63,435 ten years after enrolling, roughly $21,635 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 8 years for Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,000, against average earnings of $43,600 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona?
The six-year graduation rate is 16.5%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
From CampusROI, when there is something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.