Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona Worth It?
At a value score of 12/100, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona is a below-average value relative to its cost. Graduates earn $63,435 — 18% above average — while paying $22,213/year. Consider alternatives with better earnings-to-cost ratios.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.4 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 17% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 2 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
With a 98% acceptance rate, admission is essentially open — the question isn't whether you'll get in, but whether the investment will pay off.
Bottom line: consider whether the specific program you're interested in at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona has outcomes that justify the cost — the institution-wide numbers suggest caution.
How Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in PA
Ranked #37 of 39 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Bellingham Technical College | 92 | $5,997 | $49,748 |
| #2 | Bates Technical College | 86 | $6,292 | $50,051 |
| #3 | Renton Technical College | 76 | $8,296 | $49,782 |
| #4 | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | 71 | $6,817 | $50,669 |
| #5 | Charter Oak State College | 68 | $15,815 | $64,209 |
| #6 | Oregon Institute of Technology | 65 | $15,706 | $72,273 |
| #37 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona | 12 | $22,213 | $63,435 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 6 in PA.
Best Programs at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona
The highest-earning program at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at $67,800/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Visual and Performing Arts, General at $26,700/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduate from Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona earns $67,800, while a Visual and Performing Arts, General graduate earns $26,700. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduates carry $21,500 in median debt vs. $26,125 for Visual and Performing Arts, General.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $22,213/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $67,800 | $67,800 | $21,500 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $65,300 | $65,300 | $27,000 |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $65,000 | $65,000 | $27,000 |
| Civil Engineering | $60,000 | $60,000 | $27,000 |
| Mathematics | $49,400 | $49,400 | $25,743 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $49,000 | $49,000 | $27,000 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $38,100 | $38,100 | $27,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $36,900 | $36,900 | $27,000 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $34,700 | $34,700 | $26,000 |
| Political Science and Government | $33,700 | $33,700 | $27,000 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $32,900 | $32,900 | $27,000 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $32,400 | $32,400 | $26,622 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $32,300 | $32,300 | $25,312 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $31,000 | $31,000 | $27,000 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | $30,600 | $30,600 | $26,596 |
| Biology, General | $29,400 | $29,400 | $27,000 |
| Psychology, General | $29,100 | $29,100 | $27,000 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $28,600 | $28,600 | $27,283 |
| History | $27,900 | $27,900 | $27,000 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $27,300 | $27,300 | $26,000 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | $26,700 | $26,700 | $26,125 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Altoona, PA
- Student Body
- 2,367 students
- Admission Rate
- 98%
- Graduation Rate
- 17%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $22,213
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $63,435
- Median Student Debt
- $25,000