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Altoona, PennsylvaniaPhoto: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0
Colleges in and near Altoona

Altoona is home to two colleges, with 2,530 students on campus

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona (2,418 students on campus) and YTI Career Institute-Altoona (112) are inside the city. About 4% of Altoona’s residents are enrolled in college, below Pennsylvania (6%).

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Altoona. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
4
7,831 students on campus
Nearest college
1.5 mi
YTI Career Institute-Altoona
Residents in college
4%
Below PA (6%)
Nearest community college
28.5 mi
Pennsylvania Highlands · $7,110 tuition
Nearest public university
2.4 mi
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona · $15,972 in-state
Median household income
$51K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Altoona

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A university in AltoonaPennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona has 2,418 students on campus in Altoona, 16% of whom graduate within six years.In-state price at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State AltoonaLiving in Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona charges $15,972 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $26,958. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 28.5 miles awayPennsylvania Highlands Community College in Johnstown: tuition and fees $7,110 a year for Pennsylvania residents.Students are 4% of residentsBelow Pennsylvania (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Altoona

Three private colleges within 12.5 miles, and one public college within 2.4 miles.

5 mi10 mi15 miMount Aloysius CollegeSaint Francis UniversityPennsylvania State University-Penn State AltoonaAltoona
University or collegeCommunity college
YTI Career Institute-AltoonaUniversity or college · For-profit · 112 on campus · In Altoona$21knet price29%graduate$30kearningsPennsylvania State University-Penn State AltoonaUniversity or college · Public · 2,418 on campus · In Altoona98%admitted$22knet price16%graduate$63kearningsEarnings are reported for all 22 campuses that file with it.Mount Aloysius CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,880 on campus · 11 mi · Cresson82%admitted$22knet price57%graduate$46kearningsSaint Francis UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,421 on campus · 12.5 mi · Loretto77%admitted$24knet price74%graduate$62kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Altoona’s median household income ($51,250) falls.

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State AltoonaIn Altoona · sticker $32,559$19,464a year
Mount Aloysius College11 mi · Cresson · sticker $40,435$19,770a year
YTI Career Institute-AltoonaIn Altoona · sticker $24,874$21,022a year
Saint Francis University12.5 mi · Loretto · sticker $59,815$22,677a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Altoona: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →YTI Career Institute-AltoonaMount Aloysius CollegeSaint Francis University
Mount Aloysius College57% graduate$46k earnings$24k typical debt
Saint Francis University74% graduate$62k earnings$27k typical debt
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona16% graduate$63k earnings*$25k typical debt
YTI Career Institute-Altoona29% graduate$30k earnings

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona (22).

Majors

What students study in Altoona

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Altoona’s 2 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 26%Business 16%Education 12%Computer science 8%Engineering tech 8%Engineering 6%Everything else 24%

Biggest programs

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingPennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona · 72 graduates a year
$91k4 yrs out
Electromechanical Technologies/TechniciansPennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona · 32 graduates a year
$82k4 yrs out
Business/Commerce, GeneralPennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona · 27 graduates a year
$65k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsPennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona · 25 graduates a year
$53k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsPennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona · 16 graduates a year
$57k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralPennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona · 14 graduates a year
$50k4 yrs out
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessPennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona · 12 graduates a year
$67k4 yrs out
Accounting and Related ServicesPennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona · 11 graduates a year
$88k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Altoona

Is Altoona a college town?

No. About 4 of every 100 Altoona residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Pennsylvania (6). The largest campus in the city, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona, has 2,418 students on campus.

What colleges are in Altoona?

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona and YTI Career Institute-Altoona are inside the city. Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is 28.5 miles away in Johnstown.

What is the closest community college to Altoona, and what does it cost?

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College in Johnstown, 28.5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $7,110 a year for Pennsylvania residents; the federal net price, $6,200, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona cost if we live in Pennsylvania?

Tuition and fees are $15,972 a year in-state and $26,958 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $16,017 (under $30,000 income) to $28,263 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Altoona. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →