Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
University Park, PA, USA

Admissions

Calculate your chances of getting into Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus - University Park

Find your best-fit schools with our best-in-class chances calculator.

Get your chances

Can I Get In?

college chances

Key Admission Stats

Institution Type
Public
  • Coed

Need Aware

This school may consider an applicant’s financial situation when deciding admission

Level of Institution
4 Year
Campus Setting
Small city
0
100
76%
Acceptance Rate
95,970
Students Applied
46%
Transfer Acceptance Rate
432
Transfer Students Admitted

Admissions Requirements

SAT
Item is checked
Yes
ACT
Item is checked
Yes
SAT Subject Tests
Item is checked
Yes
AP Course Credit
Item is checked
Yes
Dual Enrollment
Item is checked
Yes
Transcript
Item is not checked
No

Important Deadlines

Application TypeApplication DeadlineReply Deadline
Early Action Acceptance is not binding, but student will receive admissions decision earlier.November 1May 1
Fall Regular DecisionDecember 1May 1
Spring Regular DecisionNovember 1
Test Optional
Item is checked
Yes
Application Fee
$65
Fee waivers available
Rolling Admissions
Item is not checked
No

Admitted Student Stats

In-State Students
58%
Out-Of-State Students
43%
US States Represented
55
Countries Represented
133
13%
Submitting ACT
77%
Submitting SAT
Average ACT Composite: 26
0
36
Average SAT Composite: 1201
0
1600
SAT Percentiles

Math
25th
530
75th
670
Reading
25th
540
75th
640
3.70
Average GPA
Students Enrolled By GPA

3.75+
33%
3.50 - 3.74
30%
3.25 - 3.49
23%
3.00 - 3.24
10%
2.50 - 2.99
4%
Students Enrolled By Class Rank

Top 10%
33
Top 25%
68
Top 50%
93
Students Enrolled By Household Income

< $30k
1191
$30k - $48k
838
$48k - $75k
1092
$75k - $110k
1261
$110k+
2424

Admissions Resources

Admissions: visit page
Admissions Email: [email protected]
Admissions Telephone: 814-865-5471
For International Student Services: visit page
For Students with Disabilities: visit page
For Veteran Services: visit page

What Students Are Saying

Stay organized. Learn your buildings. And try to schedule yourself so you ensure you can still have some time for fun. As long as you stay focused college isn't to bad. Make sure you discuss financial aid with your parents, your counselors, with your college advisers, and even with the office of financial aid. This is a money intense university and you will need the help.
Eric from Winburne, PA
Yes, Penn State is well known for its drinking and for its Greek life. But don't let that be the be-all, end-all of your college career.
DON'T immediately get lost in the partying scene of Penn State - while its okay to party and have fun, learn how to do it in moderation so that you don't end up screwing up your G.P.A. (and in turn, screwing yourself over) in your first year - you'll still be paying for it two years later and its a lot easier to do than you'd think.
DO go to the involvement fairs. In Alumni hall in the HUB running for a week straight at the beginning of the semesters there are booths and booths of clubs and activities across the Penn State community, with different groups every day. If a group even mildly interests you, put your name on the list serv. You can always take it off later if you choose.
DO get a planner or some method of keeping track of when all projects and deadlines are due. They have a nasty way of creeping up on you.
DON'T take the buses unless you have to. Long walks across campus will help you NOT gain the Freshman 15.
DON'T make a habit of always skipping class. Sure its okay to miss one here or there, but by telling yourself that its okay to constantly miss class, you'll screw yourself over in the class and develop a habit that may be harder to break in the future.
Caitlyn from State College, PA
DO not waste your time. The worst thing you can do is not take advantage of all the opportunities schools can offer. Networking, getting involved, joining clubs, getting to know your teachers can only benefit you.
DO learn how to budget your time. You need to be able to balance school work with having fun. This is probably one of the hardest things to do when you enter college. Its not like high school, teachers will not be lenient, and if you miss an exam you will get a 0. Stay on top of your work, and study in advance for test. Exams cover so much more material than they did in high school.
DO know your limit. When you go out, know when you need to stop, and when its time to go home. Always go out with friends and stay with someone you know. There are buses that run till around 2 - 2:30 at night, and are the easiest ways to get back to dorms. You can have a good time, just be safe about it.
DO go to your teacher and ask for help if you do not understand something. Don't let yourself get behind because if you do it is so much harder to catch up. Having to drop a class because your afraid of failing sucks!
DO take online classes with your friends. Some are easy general education classes that do not require as much work/time because you do not have to go sit in a classroom. Also taking them with people you know helps, you can ask each other questions.
DO stay on top of dates. It might sound stupid, but if you forget to do something, chances are your going to have problems. Housing and classes go quick. If you do not schedule when you are suppose to the class will fill and you will miss your chance to get it. There are deadlines for everything. Planners help a lot with keeping things organized.
Jen from Newww Yorkkk
Make sure to study hard and get to know your professors well. They will help you and even offer letters of recommendation when they become more familiar with you.
Michelle
Go on the website and seriously check out all the different things Penn State offers. Division sports teams, club teams, intramural sports of every kind, dance teams, theater, THON, student government, greek life, yearbook, radio, news reporting, choir...the list goes on and on. Take a tour of the campus or better yet come stay with someone who already goes here. I was torn between Maryland, Delaware and Penn State until I finally came and stayed for a weekend. By the end of the first day I knew that Penn State was the only place for me.
Also - the summer before I came I participated in the ORION wilderness orientation trip. It was an intense experience but it honestly made my transition to college so much easier. I came into my first semester with 10+ friends already. I definitely recommend it to everyone.
Meghan from Downingtown, PA
if you want a campus-y school, you're in the right place. some people may first feel overwhelmed by the large size of the university, but within two weeks you will be comfortable with your schedule and the locations of the most important buildings. my best advice for students finding their niche? get involved. there is so much to do and so much to be involved in if you just look. also, thon is the most amazing organization i've ever had the chance to be involved with, and a lot of freshmen hesitate to get involved right away in the fall, so be on the lookout for ways to get involved with it! most importantly- do not get caught up on the social scene. you have to learn to time manage from the get-go or you will have trouble staying on top of your grades. you just need to keep the end in mind, and you should do just fine. this means that you should remember that you are at penn state to get a great education, so your classes and schoolwork should remain your first priority. college is the step before your career, and that is something that needs to be taken very seriously.
Alexandra from Sewell, NJ
-Make sure you really want to be at PSU, because honestly you either love it or you hate it, and many people love it and won't get in because YOU wanted to get in and then end up hating it. So visit first.
-Have a lot of extracurriculars because PSU has alot of extracurriculars. It will prepare you for the balancing act of school, sleep, social life and extras
-Be eternally thankful for the sleep you have now. Take advantage of it. Because you won't have it for long
Ashley from Silver Spring, MD
Apply early for admission and the FAFSA. Be ready to shout out PENN STATE with all your might. East is where most freshmen end up and it's the least desirable dorms even though some love the freshmen experience there. West has the best food. Walking is faster than taking the bus if you aren't lazy. Be prepared to compromise with your roommate(s).
Ashley from Shohola, PA
Penn State is HUGE and it's very easy to feel lost in the mix. If things don't click immediately, don't get discouraged. It takes time to find the right people, but it's worth the wait.
Jacob from Bellefonte, PA
Be honest and stay true to yourselves.
Abdul Aziz from Malaysia