Pennsylvania State University-World Campus

University Park, PA · NortheastQuad's selectivityOpen

Known forMostly onlineTest-optional heavy

Admissions · Fall 2024

9 in 10 applicants admitted

Pennsylvania State admits about 9 in 10 applicants (91%). That puts it in the "Open" tier, more selective than 20% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

91%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityOpen

Applied

1,198

Admitted

1,092

Yield

31%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1090–1335

10001600

ACT middle 50%

26–32

1836

Applications +33% since fall 2014 · admit rate 58% → 91%Over time

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

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 7,877 undergrads, where 31% receive Pell Grants, a typical share compared to other colleges.

7.9K

undergrads · larger than 86% of colleges

Diversity index

0.58

Pell Grant

31%

below the median

First generation

29%

below the median

Small cityNo college housingStudy abroadUndergrad research

More diverse · index 0.45 → 0.58 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Business/Commerce, General (11% of graduates). 16 students for every faculty member, more than at 72% of colleges. Spends $1,569 a year on instruction per student.

16 to 1

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

What it costs

What students pay, price by family income, debt, and who gets grants.

$19.3K

net price per year for first-years with grants

Full price, in-state: $27,678 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

Federal loans

41%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits

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; 39% graduate within six years.

39%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$63.4K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$25K

≈ $265/month for 10 years

Retention

66%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 25% → 34% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Applications rose 33% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 58% to 91%.

Applications
Growing
+33%
Selectivity
Less selective
admit rate 58% → 91%
Diversity
More diverse
index 0.45 → 0.58

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Eastern Washington University

91% admit · 6.2K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso public

Compare side-by-side

University of Toledo

92% admit · SAT 1200 · 9.8K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size

Compare side-by-side

Central Washington University

91% admit · 7.8K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso public

Compare side-by-side

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

91% admit · 16.8K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar 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
IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
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
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
4
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
12
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
13
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
14
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
15
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
16
IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
17
IPEDS Outcome Measures survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

IPEDS unit ID 479956 · 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