Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona tuition, cost & net price

The sticker price at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona is $32,559 a year for Pennsylvania residents. After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $22,213 on average, and what your family pays depends mostly on income. Choose yours below.

Show numbers for my family

Yearly household income. Saved on this device only. No account needed.

What your family pays
$22,213 /yr

Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.

Sticker price $32,559. College Scorecard.

Net price by family income

Average after grants and scholarships for Pennsylvania residents receiving federal aid. Tap your band.

College Scorecard, latest reported year

Sticker price, line by line

Per year, living on campusIn-stateOut-of-state
Tuition & fees$15,972$26,958
Housing & meals$13,820$13,820
Books & supplies$1,840$1,840
Personal & travel$4,788$4,788
Living-at-home adjustment−$3,861−$3,861
Total cost of attendance$32,559$43,545

Cost items: IPEDS 2023-24, on-campus budget. Total: College Scorecard, which averages students living on and off campus; the adjustment row reconciles the two. Out-of-state total = in-state total with out-of-state tuition.

Debt after graduation

Median federal loan debt$19,500
Debt as a share of earnings 10 years out31%

College Scorecard; Urban Institute Education Data Portal

Who gets aid

Students with Pell Grants29%Federal grants for lower-income students
Grants for the average aided student$10,346Sticker price minus average net price

State aid: Pennsylvania residents with financial need may receive a PA State Grant: up to $6,000 a year in 2026-27 at approved colleges, depending on need and the college. Not included in the prices above. Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), PA State Grant

College Scorecard

Need-based and merit aid at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona

What Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona reported for full-time first-year students in fall 2025. Merit aid is the money net price averages miss for families who don't qualify for need-based aid.

If you qualify for need-based aid

Share of need met, on average66%Of students awarded need-based aid; excludes parent and unsubsidized loans
Students with need who had all of it met30%161 of 538
Average need-based grant$7,947
Average aid package$14,404Grants, work-study and need-based loans

If you don't qualify for need-based aid

Average merit scholarship from the college$5,577Students with no financial need; excludes athletic awards and tuition benefits
Students without need who got one39%115 first-year students

Items H2-H2A. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona net price compared with other Pennsylvania colleges

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona has the 48th-lowest average net price of 114 Pennsylvania colleges we cover. Schools around it:

RankCollegeAvg. net priceGraduationEarnings, 10 yrs
44Kutztown University of Pennsylvania$21,33154%$53,775
45Wilson College$21,74148%$43,326
46Keystone College$22,05136%$44,976
47Seton Hill University$22,20467%$51,748
48Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona$22,21317%$63,435
49Mount Aloysius College$22,34457%$46,165
50Thiel College$22,34749%$49,714
51Gannon University$22,55366%$58,845
52Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine$22,58526%$63,435

College Scorecard, latest year. Average for all aided students; your price depends on income. All Pennsylvania colleges →

Why Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona costs more or less than similar schools

SchoolAcceptanceYou'd payGraduationEarnings, 10 yrsPrice gap
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona98%$22,21317%$63,435This school
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington97%$18,07120%$63,435
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley97%$18,22018%$63,435
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York97%$19,04716%$63,435
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks99%$24,35632%$63,435

College Scorecard, latest reported year. “You'd pay” follows your residency and income choices above.

Why the price is different

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona would cost you $4,142 more per year than Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington, on average.

  • Higher sticker price at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona, mostly from higher housing & meal costs (+$1,908).
  • Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington gives aided families $378 more in grants, on average.
Per year, Pennsylvania residentPennsylvania State University-Penn State AltoonaPennsylvania State University-Penn State AbingtonDifference
Tuition & fees$15,972$15,268+$704
Books & supplies$1,840$1,840$0
Housing & meals$13,820$11,912+$1,908
Personal & travel$4,788$4,788$0
Living-at-home adjustment−$3,861−$5,013+$1,152
Sticker price$32,559$28,795+$3,764
Average grants−$10,346−$10,724+$378
You pay$22,213$18,071+$4,142

“+” means Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona costs more; “−” means it costs less. Grants are the sticker price minus the net price. Cost items: IPEDS, on-campus budget. Sticker and net price: College Scorecard, latest reported year; the adjustment reconciles the two. Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote.

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona cost questions

How much is tuition at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona?

Tuition and fees are $15,972 a year for Pennsylvania residents and $26,958 for out-of-state students.

What is the total cost of attending Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona?

The total cost of attendance, including housing, meals, books and personal costs, is $32,559 a year for Pennsylvania residents living on campus and about $43,545 for out-of-state students.

What do families actually pay at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona?

After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $22,213 a year on average. Families earning $0–30k pay $16,017; $48–75k pay $19,464; $110k+ pay $28,263. These figures are for Pennsylvania residents.

Does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona give merit scholarships?

For fall 2025, 115 full-time first-year students with no financial need received merit scholarships or grants from Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona, averaging $5,577 (Common Data Set 2025-26, excluding athletic awards). Students with need had 66% of it met on average.

How much debt do Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona graduates have?

The median federal loan debt at graduation is $19,500.

Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona the right fit for your family?

Get a free report comparing Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona with up to 4 other schools on what you'd actually pay, what graduates in your major earn, and how each fits your priorities.

Build my free reportCheck my chances of getting in

We never share your contact information.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By). Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote; confirm with the school's net price calculator. Back to Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona overview