Eric D. Palmer, Executive Director at Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center | LinkedIn
Eric D. Palmer, Executive Director at Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center | LinkedIn
Of the six institutions in the county, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona was the only one that provided detailed enrollment data at the time.
At least 7,523 people applied to Blair County colleges in the 2022-23 school year.
NCES data shows that among them, around 2,929 students enrolled in the universities, all of them in undergraduate programs. Only 3.4% of undergraduates transferred from another college or university.
The reported undergraduate student body is comprised mostly of white (73.6%) and Black or African American (7.2%) students.
Among the institutions that provided disclosed enrollment data, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona stood out with the largest enrollment at the time, welcoming 2,577 students.
U.S. college enrollment has been in a downward trend since peaking at around 18.1 million students in 2010. Recent increases offered some relief, but experts project a steeper decline in 2025.
This decline is likely due to two main factors. First, the pool of young adults is shrinking as birth rates have fallen nearly 23% between 2007 and 2022. Second, the rising cost of higher education, including skyrocketing student loan debt. A 2023 Wall Street Journal report shows that more than half of Americans think a four-year degree is not worth the cost.
NCES shows that enrollment data was not available for South Hills School of Business and Technology-Altoona in Blair County.
Some educational data is based on estimates. Shifting demographics among student populations can sometimes result in gender totals which do not equal 100%.
| Institution | # of Applicants | # of Admitted Students | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona Beauty School Inc | -- | -- | 64 |
| Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center | -- | -- | 127 |
| South Hills School of Business and Technology-Altoona | -- | -- | -- |
| The Salon Professional Academy-Altoona | -- | -- | 40 |
| YTI Career Institute-Altoona | -- | -- | 121 |
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona | 7,523 | 7,222 | 2,577 |
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