Quad

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

University Park, PAQuad's selectivityVery selective
Known forBig campusHigh graduation rateTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

6 in 10 applicants admitted

Pennsylvania State admits about 6 in 10 applicants (61%). That puts it in the "Very selective" tier, more selective than 75% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

61%

61%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityVery selective

Applied

88,478

Admitted

53,579

Yield

17%

of admits enroll

Avg. GPA

3.68

SAT middle 50%

1240–1420

10001600
ACT middle 50%

27–32

1836
Applications +76% since fall 2014 · admit rate 50% → 61%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A very large campus of 42,284 undergrads, where 14% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

42.3K

undergrads · larger than 99% of colleges

Diversity index

0.58

Pell Grant

14%

below the median

First generation

29%

below the median

Small cityNCAA D-I FBS · Big Ten ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
More diverse · index 0.48 → 0.58 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Psychology, General (5% of graduates). 16 students for every faculty member, more than at 72% of colleges. 86% of faculty are full-time. Spends $15,699 a year on instruction per student.

16 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 72% of colleges

Most popular major

Psychology, General

5% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Computer and Information Sciences, General

$120.7K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

86%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$15.7K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $44,836 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $20.6K more than the national median. The 37% who received grants paid $27,889 on average; the other 63% paid the full sticker price of $39,892 in-state / $59,846 out-of-state.

9%

$44.8K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $20.6K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price, in-state
$39,892 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Little need-based aid above $110K
aid thins out for families above that income
Aid generosity

Limited

grants cover 9% of full price

Federal loans

40%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost steady · −2% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $63,435 ten years after enrolling, more than at 75% of colleges; 86% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.8 years of that salary.

86%

86%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$63.4K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$25K

≈ $265/month for 10 years

Retention

93%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 86% → 86% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price fell 3% after inflation, and what the average first-year paid moved with it. Applications rose 76% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 50% to 61%.

  • Cost

    Steady

    −2% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +76%

  • Selectivity

    Less selective

    admit rate 50% → 61%

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.48 → 0.58

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

58% admit · SAT 1365 · 20.4K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
Compare side-by-side

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

55% admit · SAT 1365 · 30.9K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
Compare side-by-side

Ohio State University-Main Campus

61% admit · SAT 1395 · 45.6K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
Compare side-by-side

University of Wisconsin-Madison

45% admit · SAT 1450 · 36.9K undergrads

Similar sizeAlso public
Compare side-by-side
Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Common Data Set 2022–23

    Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus · Fall 2022; 2022–23; Fall 2023 entrants; Fall 2023 cycle; 2023–24; Class of 2022 · retrieved 2026-10-10

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus (2026)

    Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 214777 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything