- Acceptance rate: 98% for fall 2024
- SAT, middle 50%: 530–650 reading and writing, 540–640 math
- ACT, middle 50%: 22–28 composite
- Average net price: $22,506 a year (2022–23)
Looking for Penn State’s main campus?
On this page · 7 sections
How does your GPA compare?
Don't know your GPA? Online GPA calculator
Where you standEnter your GPA
Add a test score to compare it with what Penn State Altoona reported: an acceptance rate of 98% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 22–28.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Penn State Altoona reviews each application.
Penn State Altoona GPA requirements
Penn State Altoona requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and Penn State Altoona hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
Penn State Altoona acceptance rate
Penn State Altoona admitted 8,283 of 8,447 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 98%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Penn State Altoona is a public 4-year college in Altoona, Pennsylvania, with 2,371 undergraduates.
SAT and ACT scores
Scores of the first-year students who entered Penn State Altoona in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:
| Test | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading and Writing | 530 | 600 | 650 |
| SAT Math | 540 | 580 | 640 |
| ACT Composite | 22 | 26 | 28 |
| ACT English | 20 | 24 | 26 |
| ACT Math | 18 | 24 | 27 |
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1187 for admitted students.
Admission requirements
What Penn State Altoona looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Required |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Considered if submitted |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Considered if submitted |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Considered if submitted |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Not considered |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Not considered |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Not considered |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Not considered |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Not considered |
AP credit
Penn State Altoona awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It also awards credit for life experience, such as work or military service.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $22,506 a year at Penn State Altoona in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Is it easy to get into Penn State Altoona?
For most prepared students, yes: at least 3 in 4 applicants got in. Penn State Altoona admitted 98% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
What is the acceptance rate at Penn State Altoona?
Penn State Altoona's acceptance rate was 98% for fall 2024: it admitted 8,283 of 8,447 first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
What are Penn State Altoona's SAT and ACT score ranges?
The middle 50% of Penn State Altoona's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 530–650 in reading and writing and 540–640 in math; ACT composite 22–28, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.
What GPA does Penn State Altoona look for?
Penn State Altoona requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.
Do you need SAT or ACT scores to apply to Penn State Altoona?
Check Penn State Altoona's admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. Penn State Altoona was test optional: it considered SAT or ACT scores if you sent them, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024). Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 24% sent SAT scores and 3% sent ACT scores.
How much does GPA matter at Penn State Altoona?
A lot: Penn State Altoona requires high school GPA and high school record. It considers college preparatory program, essay or personal statement and test scores if you send them. It doesn't consider high school class rank, recommendations, other tests, demonstration of competencies, work experience and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Can a 3.0 GPA get you into Penn State Altoona?
GPA alone can't tell you here. Penn State Altoona admitted 98% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It requires a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.0 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
Does it matter at Penn State Altoona if a parent went there?
No. Penn State Altoona doesn't consider whether a parent or other relative attended, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
How much does Penn State Altoona cost after financial aid?
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $22,506 a year at Penn State Altoona in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Does Penn State Altoona accept AP credit?
Yes. Penn State Altoona awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
Before you apply, check Penn State Altoona's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: Pennsylvania State University-Penn State AltoonaU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).
Wrong result or missing a feature? Send feedback
Similar colleges in Pennsylvania
With a similar acceptance rate and size.
- Point Park UniversityAdmits most applicants · 97% admitted
- La Salle UniversityAdmits most applicants · 97% admitted
- Penn State AbingtonAdmits most applicants · 97% admitted
- Penn State BerksAdmits most applicants · 99% admitted
- Penn State Erie Behrend CollegeAdmits most applicants · 97% admitted
- University of Pittsburgh JohnstownAdmits most applicants · 95% admitted
See all colleges in Pennsylvania →