Penn State Altoona

In 2022, tuition for full-time students at Penn State Altoona was $15,086 a year for in-state students and $25,100 a year for out-of-state students.

Usually, college tuition rises about 3% year.

Remember, the total cost of tuition isn't necessarily what you will have to pay to attend a school. Many students pay far less than the sticker price after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts kick in. Plus, student loans can make thecost of college feel more doable until you've finishing school and found a job.

International students can expect to pay 25,100 per year for tuition at Penn State Altoona.

Does Penn State Altoona Offer In-State and Out-of-State Tuition?

Penn State Altoona is a public, state institution, so it offers a reduced tuition rate of $15,086 for students who qualify as state residents and attend full-time. For non-Pennsylvania residents, out-of-state tuition is $25,100 a year.

Public schools receive funds from the state to help them cover costs. Public, state schools can offer lower tuition for students who meet the requirements for in-state residency.

Choosing an insitution where you are eligible for in-state tuition can drastically reduce the overall cost of college. Don't forget to confirm your state's rules for in-state residency. Every state has its own rules about what makes someone eligible for in-state tuition. In many states, students must have lived in the state for 12 months before starting school to qualify for in-state tuition. There may be other criteria too, depending on where you live.

Explore other Pennsylvania colleges

Penn State Altoona International Student Tuition

Penn State Altoona has the same tuition for international students as for those from out of state.

International students at Penn State Altoona usually pay around $25,100 per year, before any scholarships or financial aid.

International students usually do not qualify for for federal financial aid, but should research private or school-specific grants, scholarships, and other funding opportunities..

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Penn State Altoona Room, Board, Fees, and More

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In addition to tuition, room and board, books, transportation and fees are also costs it consider when estimating the cost of attendance for college. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at Penn State Altoona.

House and Food Costs at Penn State Altoona

Room and board at Penn State Altoona is $12,744 a year. This covers the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, and a dining plan that allows you to eat all or some of your meals the Penn State Altoona's on-campus cafeterias and dining halls. Students who do not live on-campus but still want to use the dining facilities can choose to be on a meal plan. The cost of board-only is $7,126.

Meal-plan costs vary based on on the numnber of meals you intend to eat on-campus

Cost of Books at Penn State Altoona

First-year students are sometimes surprised by how much books and supplies cost–and not in a good way. The real cost of books depends on the courses you take and what kinds of books and materials they require. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy used textbooks and materials.

Yearly Fees

The majority of colleges charge some yearly fees to help cover the cost of facilties, like the library, gym and computer labs.

Keep in mind, there could also be other costs associated with participating in certain activities, like joining a fraternity or sorority, or playing on an intramural sports team. Many schools have resources for students with financial need to find ways to lower or eliminate these costs.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Transportation costs at Penn State Altoona

The total cost of getting around in college depends on a few key factors. Will you take a subway, car or an airplane to get to school? Is on-campus parking free, or will you need to budget for parking? Is the campus small enough that you can easily walk from class-to-class?? Do you own a car, or are you planning to use busses, subways, or other modes of transportation? All of these questions can drastically impact your transportation budget. Keeping in mind, first-year students are allowed to park a car on campus.

The location of a college or university can impact the amount you'll have to spend just to get around. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the other hand transportation in an urban area can be pricey, but there may be more trains, busses and affordable flights to actually get to school. The Penn State Altoona campus is located in a suburban setting in Pennsylvania.

Other Costs

When you're planning for college, be sure to factor in the cost of things like movies, takeouts, furniture or appliances for your dorm or housing, and essentials like laundry detergent, toothpaste and toilet paper.

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Financial Breakdown for Penn State Altoona

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Now, let’s go over all of the costs we've covered, to get a better estimate of the actual cost of attending Penn State Altoona.

How Much Does Penn State Altoona Cost?

What will the cost of attending Penn State Altoona be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2022 Total Tuition and Expenses
In-state Tuition	$15,086
Out-of-State Tuition	$25,100
Room and Board	$12,744
Board Only	$5,618
Other expenses	$3,222

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.

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Financial Aid at Penn State Altoona

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The majority of Penn State Altoona undergrads use financial aid to finance their education. In 2022, 1,725 of the 2,680 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Penn State Altoona meets 61.5% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $10,832 a year. Around 70.22% of Penn State Altoona undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. Penn State Altoona graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $45,549 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans	$24,602
Penn State Altoona-Specific Loans	$8,264
Private Loans	$45,962

Most Common Loans for Penn State Altoona Students
Federal Loans	68.03%
Institutional Loans	2.61%
Private loans	32.71%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on Penn State Altoona financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at Penn State Altoona

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2022, Penn State Altoona awarded 872 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $12.4 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $1.45 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Net Cost of Penn State Altoona

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for Penn State Altoona students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at Penn State Altoona was $10,832 in 2022. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of Penn State Altoona seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
In-State, On-Campus	$11,728
Net In-state, Off-campus	$15,434
Out-of-State, On-Campus	$32,574

What will attending Penn State Altoona really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families make more informed decisions about the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the Penn State Altoona's net cost calculator on their website.

Penn State Altoona Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Students cannot pay tuition in installments. Contact the financial aid office to verify this and discuss options.

Does Penn State Altoona Offer Tuition Waivers?

Schools sometimes waiver tuition for certain groups, to offset the cost of attending. Some schools offer tuition waivers for employees and their family members, underrepresented students, or military students. Even with a tuition waiver, students are usually responsible for housing, meal plans, and other expenses.

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.

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Learn More About Penn State Altoona

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