Penn State University Park

If you are thinking about applying to Penn State, the fee for the application costs $65.

Students who submit their applications to Penn State for the fall semester should anticipate a decision by October 1.

Penn State Admissions Stats at a Glance

The following is an overiew of some of Penn State's admissions stats.

Penn State 2022	Admissions Statistics
Admissions Test Policy	Not optional and are considered
Applicants Who Submit SATs	37%
Applicants Who Submit ACTs	8%
Waitlist	Yes

Penn State - University Park Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for Penn State - University Park.

Application Type	Offered	Application Deadline	Notification Deadline
Early Decision I	No	––	––
Early Decision II	––	––	––
Early Action	Yes	November 1	December 24

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Applying Early to Penn State?

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Penn State does not offer early decision but does offer early action.

🗓️ The Early Action deadline is November 1. Penn State will release EA admissions decisions no later than December 24.

➡️ Find a list of some top colleges that accept significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.

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More on Penn State - University Park Admissions

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How To Get Into Penn State - University Park

Penn State is a very difficult school to get into. Penn State has open admissions, which means admission is not competitive and any applicants that met the basic requirements can enroll.

In 2021, Penn State accepted 58% of all applicants, about 45,269 of the 78,578 students who applied.

Schools that are very difficult to get into, like Penn State, accept fewer than 60% of all applicants. At least 50% of all admitted students have GPAs in the top 10% of their high school class and scored over 1230 on the SAT and over 26 on the ACT.

Transferring to Penn State - University Park

For more information on transferring to Penn State - University Park, contact the school directly.

For Students Waitlisted to Penn State

Penn State has not reported data for waitlisted and admitted students.

What Does Penn State Look For in an Applicant?

Colleges consider a range of factors when deciding who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college has a different way of determining which factors are are most important in the admissions process. When creating your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and apply to colleges that put the most emphasis on the areas where you shine.

Admissions Factors at Penn State

What does Penn State consider during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor	Level
Academic GPA	Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record	Important
Alumni/ae Relations	Considered
Geographical Residence	Considered
Racial/Ethnic Status	Considered
State Residency	Considered
Talent/Ability	Considered
Standardized Test Scores	Considered

Make sure to check with Penn State for more information on admission factors.

Penn State Application Requirements

To apply to Penn State, all applicants must submit the following items. Check in with Penn State's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area	Required	Recommended	Required for Some	Details (If Any)
Written Essay or Personal Statement
Interview
Transcript(S) of College Record
Transcript of High School Record
Standardized Test Scores
Statement of Good Standing From Prior Institution(S)

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GPA and Testing

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What GPA Do I Need To Get Into Penn State?

Penn State has not provided an information about GPAs of accepted students. Any questions regarding applicant expectations should be addressed directly with the school.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that highlights your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

Penn State looks at standardized tests scores during the admissions process.

Penn State is not test optional. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

In 2022, 37% of Penn State's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 8% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.

What is a Good SAT Score for Penn State?

On the SAT Math Section, 25% of Penn State students scored 710 or higher and 75% of students scored 600 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of Penn State students scored 690 or higher, and 75% scored a 600 or higher.

What is a Good ACT Score for Penn State?

To be most competitive at Penn State, you should strive to earn between 26 and 32 on the ACT.

An ACT score of 32 means you fall in the 75th percentile for Penn State's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 32, and three out of four students scored lower than 32 on the ACT.

A 26 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for Penn State students. Only one out of every four students scored below 26.

Want To Bring Up Your ACT Score? Access ACT practice tests and study tips and see upcoming ACT test dates.

More Information on Transferring to Penn State - University Park

Transfer applications are processed on a on a rolling basis as they are received.

Transfer students can enroll in Penn State during the following terms:

• Fall Term

• Spring Term

• Summer Term

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Penn State Admissions FAQs

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Can I defer my acceptance to Penn State?

✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to Penn State.

Does Penn State accept transfer credits?

✅ Penn State accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions. Penn State accepts:

• CLEP subject tests • DSST/DANTES

Does Penn State accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

✅ Penn State accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits and Advanced Placement (AP) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to Penn State?

✅ Penn State is not test optional. You must submit test scores as part of the application.

What is Penn State's acceptance rate?

✅ Penn State has an acceptance rate of 58%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at Penn State?

❌ Penn State does not offer early decision.

Want To Learn More About Penn State?

To learn more about Penn State, choose from the options below:

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Tuition & Aid

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