Career Training Path › Pennsylvania › Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center
Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center
Altoona, Pennsylvania · Public technical college · Training programs available:
Address: 1500 Fourth Avenue, Altoona, PA 16602 · Phone: (814) 941-8324 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center is a public trade school in Altoona, PA offering LPN, dental assistant, and phlebotomy programs, accredited by the Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools.
Per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, 68.5% of students complete their program (near the state average of 66.2%), median graduate debt is $9,500, and median earnings 10 years after entry are $38,008.
Annual cost of attendance at Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center is $22,232, federal financial aid including FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used, and 51.5% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $51,500 | $63,940 | $72,810 |
| Dental assistants | $38,040 | $47,930 | $56,840 |
| Phlebotomists | $37,010 | $43,910 | $47,370 |
| HVAC and refrigeration mechanics and installers | $45,970 | $62,400 | $74,620 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $40,510 | $52,900 | $61,920 |
| Medical assistants | $36,810 | $43,920 | $46,490 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $35,600 | $49,800 | $62,780 |
| Electricians | $45,600 | $67,600 | $95,500 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Pennsylvania (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 63 | $38,117 | not reported | $14,109 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | Certificate, under 300 hours | 17 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Certificate, under 300 hours | 13 | $28,718 | not reported | not reported |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | Certificate, 1–2 years | 12 | not reported | $28,598 | not reported |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 8 | $28,718 | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 6 | $24,183 | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 6 | $34,042 | $37,424 | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Certificate, 1–2 years | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center is a public trade and career school in Altoona, Pennsylvania. It is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools, and federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used here. The campus offers nine program families, with the most-completed programs being LPN / LVN programs (63 completers), dental assistant schools (21 completers), and phlebotomy classes (17 completers).
On completion outcomes, 68.5% of students finish their program, which is near the state average of 66.2%. Graduates carry a median debt of $9,500, and median earnings ten years after entry are $38,008. Annual cost of attendance is $22,232, and 51.5% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a substantial share of low-income enrollment. All figures are drawn from federal College Scorecard data; any figure not listed here is not reported for this campus in federal data.
With 220 undergraduate students and 128 trade completers, this is a small-city campus focused on healthcare and technical trade fields such as LPN, dental assisting, phlebotomy, HVAC, welding, medical assisting, auto mechanics, and electrician training. Program lengths are not detailed in the data provided, so prospective students, including adult career-changers, should contact the school directly or review the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard to confirm program length, schedule, and current tuition before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
The school offers nine program families, most notably LPN / LVN programs (63 completers), dental assistant schools (21 completers), and phlebotomy classes (17 completers), alongside HVAC, welding, medical assistant, auto mechanic, and electrician programs.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, it is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools, with a status of Accredited.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 68.5%, which is near the Pennsylvania state average of 66.2%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carry a median debt of $9,500, according to federal College Scorecard data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are $38,008, per federal College Scorecard data.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
The annual cost of attendance is $22,232.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
This is a public school, which typically means lower tuition and eligibility for state-supported oversight compared to for-profit institutions.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program lengths are not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school at (814) 941-8324 or visit gactc.edu to confirm.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools and check outcome data on the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard at the provided link.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The data does not specify program schedules or formats, so fit for adult career-changers is not reported in federal data; contact the school directly to discuss options.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing or certification requirements are not reported in federal data for this campus; contact the school to learn what credential each program leads to.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center at (814) 941-8324 or through its website, https://www.gactc.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data with nearby schools is not reported here; use the College Scorecard link, https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?383367, to compare completion rates, costs, and earnings across schools.
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Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.