Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona Swimming — Division III Recruiting Profile
At a Glance
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona Swim Program Overview
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona fields men's varsity · women's varsity in NCAA Division III, competing in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate. Division III programs prioritize the balance of athletics and academic achievement — there are no athletic scholarships, but D3 schools commonly offer strong institutional merit and need-based aid packages that make the net cost competitive.
NCAA Division III prohibits athletic scholarships entirely — no money can be tied to athletic ability. However, D3 schools typically offer strong institutional merit and need-based grant programs. Families who complete FAFSA often find the true after-aid net cost at selective D3 schools competitive with out-of-state public university pricing.
Academically, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona has an enrollment of 3,234, a 3.1% acceptance rate, a Niche overall grade of A. As a public university, it offers in-state tuition of $13,800 for Pennsylvania residents — a significant advantage over the $42,600 out-of-state rate.
Recruiting Time Standards
Calibrated benchmarks for Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona based on historical recruiting classes. A cut = scholarship / elite tier. B cut = scoring varsity. C cut = walk-on / depth.
| Event | A Cut | B Cut | C Cut |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 Free | 24.75 | 25.63 | 26.88 |
| 100 Free | 54.38 | 56.50 | 58.75 |
| 200 Free | 1:58.13 | 2:02.50 | 2:07.50 |
| 500 Free | 5:18.75 | 5:28.75 | 5:40.00 |
| 1000 Free | 10:57.50 | 11:15.00 | 11:35.00 |
| 1650 Free | 18:20.00 | 18:45.00 | 19:17.50 |
| 100 Back | 59.38 | 1:01.50 | 1:04.38 |
| 200 Back | 2:08.75 | 2:13.75 | 2:20.00 |
| 100 Breast | 1:06.25 | 1:08.75 | 1:11.88 |
| 200 Breast | 2:22.50 | 2:28.75 | 2:35.00 |
| 100 Fly | 58.13 | 1:00.63 | 1:03.13 |
| 200 Fly | 2:07.50 | 2:12.50 | 2:18.13 |
| 200 IM | 2:01.25 | 2:06.25 | 2:11.25 |
| 400 IM | 4:20.00 | 4:30.00 | 4:40.00 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona Swimming Division and Conference
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona competes in NCAA Division III, in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate. Division III is the largest NCAA division by program count and prioritizes athletic excellence without athletic scholarships — schools fund student success through institutional merit and need-based aid instead. The Allegheny Mountain Collegiate conducts a conference championship each season, which influences national rankings and NCAA qualifying bids.
Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona a good fit for swimmers?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona is a NCAA Division III swim program competing in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate, a competitive NCAA conference. Division III swimming is deeply competitive in its own right, with programs that have strong traditions and send athletes to the NCAA D3 Championships. Without athletic scholarships, D3 schools recruit swimmers who prioritize balancing sport with academics.
Competing in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona swimmers face some of the strongest programs in the country throughout the season. Conference championship performance influences team rankings, national reputation, and how many swimmers earn bids to the NCAA Championships in March.
As a D3 program, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona cannot offer athletic scholarships under NCAA rules. However, D3 institutions typically offer competitive academic merit and need-based financial aid. Many families find the real after-aid net cost at selective D3 schools comparable to out-of-state public university pricing.
Who should consider Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona for swimming?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona is an ideal recruiting target for swimmers who want to compete at the NCAA Division III level in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate while studying in Altoona, Pennsylvania. As a public university, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona is especially cost-competitive for Pennsylvania residents: in-state tuition of $13,800 is significantly below the out-of-state rate of $42,600. For recruited out-of-state swimmers, an athletic scholarship can close that gap and make the net cost of attendance highly competitive.
Based on Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona's historical recruiting classes, the breakdown by tier for the 50 Free looks like this:
- Scholarship-target level (A cut) — 24.75 or faster in the 50 Free: These recruits are the top priority for coaching staff and are first in line for athletic aid discussions.
- Scoring varsity level (B cut) — 25.63: Expected to contribute points in dual meets and conference scoring situations. Strong candidates for partial athletic and merit aid packages.
- Walk-on / preferred walk-on (C cut) — 26.88: Adds training depth to the program. Walk-ons at D1 programs routinely drop significant time and can earn scholarship money in later years based on performance.
Coaches recruit on your best event — a single A-cut can open a recruiting conversation regardless of other events. See the full recruiting time standards table above for all 14 tracked events and identify where you stand across your entire event lineup.
Academically, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona admits 3.1% of applicants — making it a selective institution where academic strength matters alongside athletic credentials. Recruited athletes are expected to meet the standard admissions profile, and coaches typically have some ability to advocate for borderline candidates when the athletic need is strong.
Tuition, Costs & Financial Aid
Sticker price
In-state tuition: $13,800
Out-of-state tuition: $42,600
Room & board: $12,600
After aid
Average net price: $21,400 (IPEDS)
Meets full need: No
Merit aid availability: medium
Need aid availability: medium
Academic Profile
Admissions
Acceptance rate: 3.1%
Total enrollment: 3,234
Institution type: public
NCAA eligibility requires a minimum 2.3 GPA and 16 core courses for D1/D2, and a 2.0 GPA for D3, plus academic progress standards in each year. Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona's admissions profile reflects the general academic baseline — most coaches prefer recruits who meet or comfortably exceed those standards.
Campus & Location
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona is located in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Browse all NCAA swim programs in Pennsylvania →
Coaching Staff & Recruiting Contact
Frequently Asked Questions
- What division does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona swim in?
- Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona competes in NCAA Division III, in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate. The program offers men's varsity · women's varsity.
- What recruiting times does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona swimming look for?
- For the 50 Free, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona's A-cut recruiting standard is 24.75, the B cut is 25.63, and the C cut is 26.88. A cuts target scholarship-level recruits, B cuts are solid scoring varsity, and C cuts cover walk-on depth. See the full table above for all 14 tracked events.
- How much does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona cost after financial aid?
- IPEDS data shows an average net price of $21,400 per year at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona. Your real cost depends on your family's FAFSA Student Aid Index (SAI), any athletic aid, and merit scholarships.
- Does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona swimming offer athletic scholarships?
- No — NCAA Division III programs cannot offer athletic scholarships. Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona swimmers are eligible for academic merit aid and need-based financial aid, but none of it can be tied to athletic performance.
- Does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona meet 100% of demonstrated financial need?
- Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona does not commit to meeting 100% of financial need. Aid packages typically include a combination of grants, loans, and work-study based on FAFSA results.
- How selective is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona academically?
- Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona accepts 3.1% of applicants. Recruited swimmers are expected to meet or exceed the general admissions academic standards, though coaches may have limited bandwidth to advocate for borderline academic cases.
- What conference does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona swimming compete in?
- Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona swims in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate. Conference championship performance influences NCAA qualifying times and the program's national ranking each season.
- Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona public or private, and does it matter for swim recruits?
- Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona is a public university. In-state students from Pennsylvania pay $13,800 in tuition vs. $42,600 out-of-state. Athletic scholarships can offset the out-of-state premium for recruited swimmers, making the net cost competitive regardless of home state.
Similar Programs
Other NCAA Division III programs in and around Pennsylvania — explore schools with comparable recruiting profiles
Do your times fit Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona?
Enter your best event times and we'll tell you exactly how you compare to Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona's A, B, and C recruiting benchmarks — across all 14 events.
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Sources: NCAA, IPEDS, Niche.com, ProductiveRecruit. Recruiting time tiers (A/B/C) are University Swim Fit-calibrated benchmarks based on division, program tier, and historical recruiting classes.