Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
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.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
$65 to apply
Can be waived for applicants with financial need.
Grants credit for AP exams
Men and women
Men were admitted at 58%, women at 63%.
Yield
17% of admitted students enroll, in the typical range nationally.
Wait list: 3,796 offered a place, 2,384 accepted, 419 admitted (18% of those who accepted)
Applying early
Restrictive early action (not binding): apply by Nov 1; decisions by Dec 24
Restrictive early action: applicants agree not to apply to other colleges' early plans, with exceptions the college sets.
Where you stand
How Pennsylvania State reads a record
GPA and the high school record are required; a college-prep program is considered. 48% of first-years who sent test scores had a 3.75 or higher. Scores are optional. 31% of first-years sent an SAT and 5% an ACT. Most first-years were admitted without scores. Recommends 3 years of foreign language (2 required). See the years by subject
What they look at
- High school GPA
- Required
- High school record
- Required
- Class rank
- Not considered
- College-prep program
- Considered
- Recommendations
- Not considered
- Essay
- Considered
- Legacy status
- Not considered
- Work experience
- Not considered
- Demonstration of competencies
- Not considered
- English proficiency test
- Required
- Other tests
- Not considered
Transferring in
57% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 61% of first-year applicants
1,696 applied · 962 admitted · 432 enrolled
Transfers may start in the fall, spring, and summer.
At least 18 credits completed to apply as a transfer.
Minimum college GPA: 2.0
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
What the application needs
- High school transcript
- Required
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Recommended for some
- Interview
- Recommended for some
- Standardized test scores
- Recommended for some
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Recommended for some
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Admitted students must reply by May 1, or within 2 weeks if admitted later.
- $100 housing deposit, due May 1, non-refundable.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year. Longest postponement: One Year.
What you'll need in high school
Requires a high school diploma; accepts the GED.
Recommends a college-preparatory program in high school.
| Years of | Required | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 | – |
| Math | 3 | – |
| Science | 3 | – |
| Foreign language | 2 | 3 |
| Social studies | 3 | – |
| Total | 15* | 3* |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science. *Added up from the subjects listed; the college didn't give a total.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2022 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 3.68
High schools grade differently, and colleges recalculate or weight GPAs their own way, so compare this college only with itself.
First-years by high school GPA (4.0 scale)
- 4.00%
- 3.75–3.9948%
- 3.50–3.7426%
- 3.25–3.4917%
- 3.00–3.247%
- below 3.02%
The middle half had GPAs of 3.25–3.99.
All nine bands
| GPA | Sent test scores |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 0.0% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 47.9% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 25.9% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 16.5% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 7.4% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 2.0% |
| 2.0–2.49 | 0.3% |
| 1.0–1.99 | 0.0% |
| below 1.0 | 0.0% |
33% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 68% in the top quarter, of the 32% whose high school reported a rank.
Source:Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Common Data Set 2022–23, Fall 2022About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1330 on the SAT, 160 points above the median for colleges that report scores.
Optional
Scores are considered if you send them. For students who entered in fall 2024.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
submitted ACT
Read with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Common Data Set 2022–23, Fall 2022;Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Common Data Set 2022–23, 2022–23;Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Common Data Set 2022–23, Fall 2023 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)