Congratulations on your offer of admission! So what's next?
Be sure to review the information on this site to make your transition to Penn State Altoona a seamless one.
Step 1: Accept Your Offer
If you choose to attend Penn State Altoona (and we hope you will!), log in to your MyPennState account and select the Click here to accept your offer of admission button to take the next step.
When you accept your offer of admission, you will be asked to submit a nonrefundable $230 enrollment deposit, which is payable online.
Step 2: Apply for On-campus Housing
When you accept your offer of admission online, you may also choose to pay the $100 on-campus housing deposit. You will receive a confirmation email when you successfully submit your housing contract.
If accepting by mail: Contact Penn State Altoona’s Housing and Food Services Office at 814-949-5713 after mailing your Acceptance Notification and check or money order in order to secure on-campus housing.
Because housing is not guaranteed for first-year students, and is based upon a first-come, first-served basis, be sure to submit your housing deposit when you accept your offer. If housing is not available when you accept your offer of admission, you may choose to be placed on the housing waitlist.
Step 3: Find Off-campus Housing
First-year students are not required to live on campus and there are several off-campus housing options available, many within walking distance to campus. Information about off-campus living is available on the Off-campus Living page.
Step 4: Select a Meal Plan
Students may choose between three meal plan levels. When you purchase one of the meal plan levels, you are doing so for an entire semester. You may change the level of your plan in eLiving anytime during the semester until seven days before the last day of finals. Each time you visit a dining facility operated by Penn State Housing and Food Services, simply present your Penn State ID card to the cashier to pay.
If you plan to live on campus, the meal plan is a part of the Housing and Food Service Contract, and you do not need to submit a separate contract. If you live off-campus, you can purchase a meal plan on the eLiving site and charge it directly to your Bursar Account.
Step 5: Submit the FAFSA
You can access the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online after October 1.
The priority filing deadline for Penn State is December 1, but students may still send in the FAFSA after this date.
Students will begin to receive their aid award notifications in early February. Aid award notifications will be posted to the student’s MyPennState account.
Step 6: Attend Our Accepted Students Program
Whether you are still thinking about Penn State or you have already accepted your offer of admission, we encourage you to visit our campus for the Accepted Student Program, held annually in March.
Check our Visit Us page for dates and to register.
Step 7: Complete New Student Orientation Task List
The New Student Orientation (NSO) process will become available to you in March, once you have accepted your offer of admission. We’ll send a message to you at the email used on your Penn State application to begin the process so make sure to check that email often!
Our NSO task list is a comprehensive list of all the action items you must complete before starting at Penn State. Think of it as a one-stop list for all of the items you must complete before your first semester. It includes about twenty different items, including submitting required immunizations, completion of the transfer credit worksheet to track any AP or transfer credit you may bring to Penn State, as well as the ALEKS Math Assessment. ALEKS is an online math placement test that provides placement for math and science courses. We want you to be successful in your course work and ALEKS helps set you up for success. Instructions on how to complete the assessment will be available on your task list. You must complete it before your NSO program so that you can schedule math and science classes.
Step 8: Participate in New Student Orientation
All students will participate in New Student Orientation this summer. Participation in NSO is required; it’s how you will schedule your classes with an adviser.
We don’t know yet if our orientation programs will be virtual or in-person, but our goals for orientation remain the same regardless of delivery mode. All of the latest information will be available on the orientation site.
Step 9: Set Up Payment
In early August, an electronic bill (eBill) will be emailed to your official University email account, if activated, with instructions to view and/or pay the bill via LionPATH. The payment options will be explained and any awarded financial aid will show as “Estimated Financial Aid.” Please note that no paper bills will be mailed.
Parents: Become an Authorized Payer
Parents whose student gives them authorized payer access through LionPATH will receive a message that the bill is available. Students may give access to a parent or guardian at lionpath.psu.edu. Parents can log in to view the bill.
Signing your financial Responsibility Statement and clearing any outstanding balance from a prior semester on your student account are the steps that finalize your course registration and ensure that your name appears on class rosters. This information can be found in your “To-Do List” in LionPATH.
Step 10: Send Final High School Transcript
Penn State requires students who have accepted their offer of admission to provide documentation showing their high school completion status. Once you have graduated from high school, be sure to submit your final high school transcript documentation that states the date of graduation.
Step 11: Accept Your Offer by May 1
May 1 is the nationally recommended date for students to accept their offer of admission for summer and fall admission.
Step 12: Get a Parking Pass
All students are permitted to have a car on campus. Student parking fees and parking registration can be found online on the Parking website.
Penn State Altoona students have free access to all Amtran bus routes with their student ID. Buses run between the Ivyside and downtown campuses and throughout the Altoona area including various shopping plazas, restaurants, and movie theatres.
Step 13: Arrive on Campus
Move-in for first-year students is typically the Friday before the first day of classes, which typically is on a Monday in late August.
We can’t wait to see you on campus!