On-campus Housing
Penn State Altoona’s four residence halls offer an on-campus living experience for 889 students. Each hall provides 24-hour card access, a computer lab and study lounge, emergency call boxes, cable access, laundry facilities, and vending machines.
Maple and Oak Halls
Maple and Oak Halls are traditional residence halls for first-year students, with double bedrooms. Maple has a large common bathroom for each wing. Oak has individual pod-style bathrooms.
Spruce and Cedar Halls
Spruce and Cedar Halls offer two-bedroom suites for four students, both first-year students and upperclassmen. Suitemates share a semi-private bathroom with separate shower and toilet stalls, two sinks, and storage space. Spruce houses 140 students, while Cedar houses 320.
Residence Life
The Residence Life programallows students to connect with fellow residents, student mentors, and professional staff through educational programming, activities, and events. Resident Assistants (RAs) reside within the residence halls and are trained to respond to many situations, including roommate conflicts, homesickness, and more serious matters.
Housing Availability
Penn State Altoona reserves 650 of its 889 total residence hall spaces for first-year students, which are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Housing is not guaranteed or required for first-year students. If housing becomes full, students will be given the option of being added to the housing waitlist.
Reserving On-campus Housing
Students interested in living on campus must first accept their offer of admission by paying the nonrefundable acceptance fee of $230. Once the acceptance fee is paid, students will be given the option of registering for on-campus housing by paying a nonrefundable housing deposit of $100.
Housing Waitlist
If on-campus housing is no longer available, this will be indicated before paying the $230 acceptance fee. If the waitlist is open, students then may choose to pay the acceptance fee and request to be placed on the waitlist. Waitlisted students are not required to accept an on-campus housing offer when a spot becomes available. If the waitlist is closed, students may choose to accept their offer and secure off-campus housing.
Students also may request to change their campus to one at which housing is available. To discuss changing campuses, please contact the Office of Admission at [email protected] or 814-949-5466.
Transfer Student Housing
All transfer students who have an interest in living on campus for fall or spring semester must contact Penn State Altoona’s Housing Office at [email protected] or 814-949-5713 for availability. It is recommended that transfer students do this BEFORE paying the nonrefundable $230 acceptance fee.
For current on-campus housing rates, visit the Housing and Food Services site.
Off-campus Housing
There are plenty of off-campus housing options for students who choose not to live on campus as well as those students who do not receive on-campus housing – many within walking distance to campus as well as on the Amtran bus system route. Penn State Altoona students may ride Amtran buses free of charge by showing their student ID.
Find Off-campus Housing
Off-campus housing is owned and run by private landlords, not Penn State Altoona. Information about off-campus housing and availability can be found on the Altoona Student Housing site.
Cooperative Landlord Agreement
A group of landlords offer a cooperative agreement for Penn State Altoona students. These landlords allow a student who is on the on-campus housing waitlist to secure off-campus housing. If the student is pulled off the waitlist and provided on-campus housing, they will release the student from the off-campus lease and grant a full refund of any monies before the deadline (typically in July). For a list of these landlords, visit the agreement page on the Altoona Student Housing site.
