Pennsylvania State University, Penn State Altoona

At Penn State Altoona, you'll find the appeal of a small, private college, with the name recognition and prestige of a major research university. Our goal is to help you reach your goals — educational, personal, and professional.

Penn State Altoona’s mission is to cultivate a vibrant learning environment through excellence in teaching, research, creative activities, outreach and the advancement of personal, social, and intellectual growth, and to empower a diverse student body with the knowledge and skills to be critical thinkers, lifelong learners, and civically-engaged global citizens.

Penn State Altoona strives to be the premier campus college at Penn State, renowned for our innovative, high-quality programs, student-centered engagement in the undergraduate classroom and in cutting-edge research and creative activities, effective service to the academy, and purposeful outreach to the community.

You have the option of starting and completing 21 undergraduate majors at Altoona or starting 275+ majors here and finishing at University Park campus. Whether you're a first-year student looking to get a head start on your college career, a current student looking to get ahead or catch up, or a student at another college or University home for the summer, Penn State Altoona offers numerous summer learning opportunities. Whether you're a first year student, an adult learner, a transfer student, an international student, or a veteran, we've got the information you need to make the application process simple.

Penn State Altoona offers you many out-of-class experiences, with research, internships, and study abroad opportunities; clubs and organizations; and recreational activities including NCAA Division III varsity athletics, club sports, fitness classes, and more!

A smart investment yields a good return, which is what our students get when they choose Penn State Altoona. The investment students and their families make in tuition helps them receive the education they need to find a career they will love. Employers hire our graduates because they trust a Penn State education. In fact, the Wall Street Journal named Penn State as the number one overall institution in the nation for producing the best prepared and well-rounded graduates, who are most able to succeed once hired. In addition, completion of a four-year degree increases an individual’s life-long earnings.

Internships are vitally important for today’s college students. Nine out of ten employers indicate that they are more likely to hire a recent college graduate if they have had a successful internship; more than 40 percent of new college hires come directly from an employer’s internship pool.

Study abroad and study away programs are any academic experience that involves extensive student travel, including both domestic and international. As educators, we recognize that our society is increasingly national and global in nature, and that our students will increasingly be working and living in diverse communities. We feel strongly that part of a university education should provide avenues for students to become more engaged global citizens, and they will increasingly need to be working with others from very different backgrounds.

Study abroad/study away programs provide opportunities for students to be challenged by learning in social and cultural environments very different from those in which they grew up and traditionally study. These programs help students become more reflective of others different from themselves by exposing them to people from different socioeconomic, religious, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds. They also encourage students to learn how to adapt to different environments, work with different types of people, and thereby become more self-aware and self-reflective about their own place in society.

Students who take part in study abroad/study away programs consistently report that these programs provide them with powerful, positive life-changing experiences.

Penn State Altoona offers a broad range of study abroad/study away programs to its students. Students have an opportunity to take part in full-year programs, semester programs, summer programs, and short-term programs. Penn State offers programs tailored to a variety of majors as well as more general programs open to the majority of students. The programs are structured in a variety of ways: from exchange programs with sister institutions where a student travels and studies alone, to programs led by Penn State faculty with all of the participants being Penn State students.

Our accredited Health and Wellness Center offers numerous resources including health services, health education, counseling and psychological services, and student disability resources. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff is available to make your college experience a healthy and rewarding one. Whether you choose to live in one of our four on-campus residence halls or in nearby off-campus housing, you’ll be sure to find a living environment that’s right for you.

University Police at Penn State Altoona is responsible for the protection of and service to its students, faculty, staff and employees. University Police provides around-the-clock protection to ensure the safety of all members of the Penn State Altoona community. Career Services supports and serves students and alumni, faculty and staff, families, and employers in all areas related to career development and preparation.