Penn State Acceptance Rate 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 & 2026

Penn State Admission Requirements and Acceptance Rate

Check here Penn State Acceptance Rate for all year. Here I have listed Penn State Acceptance Rate

• Penn State Acceptance Rate 2022
• Penn State Acceptance Rate 2023
• Penn State Acceptance Rate 2024
• Penn State Acceptance Rate 2025
• Penn State Acceptance Rate 2026

Penn State Acceptance Rate: Penn State University’s Main Campus is located within University Park, PA, an institution of higher education that concentrates on a handful of programs.

Penn State has around 94,000 students who are enrolled each year.

The ACT or SAT may be required before applying to this institution. Scores ranging from 1070 (25th percentile) to 1310-1310 (75th percentile) on the SAT and between 23 (25th percentile) and 30-31 (75th percentile) on the ACT is typical among those accepted to this school.

When we apply samples of GPA data from more than 150 schools, we can estimate that Penn State’s standard GPA is 3.28 and 3.64 for students accepted. Penn State University-Main Campus accepts approximately 80 per cent of the students who apply every year.

In the case of taken, roughly 22 per cent have been used for admission. Based on the data from previous years, we’ve estimated an acceptance rate of around 59%.

Penn State’s acceptance rate in 2021 will be 59% or less. More information can be obtained through the admissions office’s site by visiting admissions.psu.edu.

Penn State University – Overview & Background

Pennsylvania State University, also called PSU or Penn State, was started in 1855. Since it is an institution that is a Public Research University, Penn State is frequently regarded as one of those Public Ivy League institutions in the nation. The university provides graduate degrees, some of which are highly rated.

The College of Engineering at Pennsylvania State University–University Park is an acclaimed school for engineering, while the Smeal College of Business is quite respected as an undergraduate business school.

Established	February 22, 1855
Also Known As	Penn State | PSU
University Motto	“Making Life Better” “Virtue, Liberty, and Independence”
University Type	Public State-Related Land-Grant Research University
University Location	University Park, Pennsylvania, United States
Student to Faculty Ratio	14:1
Graduation Rate	84%
Employment Rate	87.2%
Main Campus	University Park
Campus Size	7,343 Acres
Endowment	$3.40 billion (2020)
Acceptance Rate	51%
Official University Website	Pennsylvania State University, United States
Contact Number	814-865-4700

Penn State: Acceptance Rate – Class of 2025

Penn State admitted 45,233 of the 78,508 first-year students who applied to be part of the class of 2025. This is equivalent to an acceptance rate of 58.

Although the university doesn’t provide statistics for in-state and outside-state acceptance rates, an audit in 2017 showed that students who were out of state were accepted at a higher level than PA residents.

The audit showed that the school relies heavily on tuition costs paid by non-residents to fund the university.

Class of 2026 Profile and Middle 50% GPA Data

The chart’s ranges below are the mid-50 % of students who are offered admission to their first choice of campus in fall/summer 2022.

They do not represent cutoffs, averages or even topics. The chart is meant for estimation purposes only and does not constitute any guarantee or promise of admission.

Being placed in the upper part of both ranges improves the chances of receiving the first option of college or major. If you are in the lower spine, you might be more flexible when making your college (and possibly major) selections.

Academic Scale	University Park	All other Campuses
High School GPA (unweighted 4.0 scale )	3.59-3.93	3.12-3.78

 

Academic Scale	University Park	All other Campuses
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing + Math	1270-1450	1090-1310

Academic Scale	University Park	All other Campuses
Composite ACT	28-33	23-30

First-Year Applicants	Number
Total Applications University-wide	95,999
Total First-Year Students University-wide	15,443
Total First-Year Students at University Park	8,305
Total First-Year International Applications	14,962
Total First-Year International Students University-wide	1,360

Penn State Admissions – SAT, ACT, and GPA

For those given a spot in the class 2026 class, the middle 50 per cent non-weighted GPA of the students was 3.59-3.93. The range of standardized tests was 28-33 for the ACT and 1270-1450 for the SAT.

The numbers for those who decided to enrol in college were a bit less. The 2021-22 freshmen who were enrolled had an average of 50 per cent ACT between 26 and 32 and an SAT range between 1200 and 1400.

SAT Score Choice Policy

It is essential to understand that the Score Choice policy at your school is an integral component of your test strategy.

Penn State has the Score Choice policy that states, “Highest Sitting. “

This means you can pick the SATs you would like to submit to the school. From all scores they receive, the admissions committee will consider the scores from the single test you took (the amount of reading, math, and writing).

It is essential to consider when deciding on your test strategy. Because you have the option of choosing which tests to submit and Penn State only considers your the highest score on one day of testing, students can attempt the SAT multiple times as they’d like and offer the highest scores. Your application readers will only be able to see one score.

So, if you’re SAT score is currently lower than the 1265 mark, We strongly suggest thinking about preparing for the SAT and then retaking it. You won’t have much to lose, and you may be able to boost your score significantly and increase your chances of getting into.

SAT and ACT Requirements

Admissions Trends & Notes

• The 2025 Class had an acceptance rate of 58, nine points more than the acceptance rate of 49%—speed of the Class of 2023.
• Women generally have a higher acceptance rate at Penn State than their male counterparts. In the class of 2025, the advantage for female applicants was 60 % to 55%.
• PSU was an optional test for the class of 2025. 37% of students submitted SAT scores, while 8% included ACT results in their applications.
• The yield rate dropped from 21 per cent (Class of 2024) to 19 per cent (Class of 2025).

Who Gets Into Penn State?

Let’s take a look at the characteristics of Penn State undergraduates:

Most Penn State students hailed from the Keystone and paid tuition in-state. The division was:

• In-state: 58%
• Out-of-state-42%

In analyzing ethnicity within members of the Nittany Lion undergraduate student body, The breakdown is as the following:

• Asian American: 6%
• Hispanic: 8%
• African American: 6%
• International: 9%
• Caucasian: 65%

International students come from 111 nations, with the highest proportion of students from the following countries:

1. China
2. India
3. South Korea
4. Saudi Arabia
5. UAE

The gender breakdown of the undergraduate student body class shows more males than women who are currently on campus:

• Male: 54%
• Female: 46%

Penn State’s Yield Rate

The Penn State yield rate, the per cent of students who choose to enrol divided by the number of students admitted, was 19 per cent.

Compared with other renowned public institutions, UT-Austin has a 46 per cent return, UGA has a yield of 41%, and Ohio State’s yield is 30 per cent.

How Penn State Rates Applicants

One thing in Penn State ranks is “essential” to their admissions process. It is a student’s GPA. The only area considered “important” is the rigour of one’s secondary school records. Six aspects can be “considered” by Penn State.

These include standardized tests, talent/ability status, legacy status, geographical residency, state residency and racial/ethnic classification.

Penn State went test-optional due to the COVID-19 pandemic during the admissions cycle 2020-21. They will be testing optional through the summer/fall of 2023.

The admissions office’s words: “The most important piece of our evaluation includes your educational record. It is the four years you have spent in academic development…We will closely examine the different functions you play as a parent, student or athlete, father and daughter or employee.

Ensuring that we have a group of students with various interests and experiences is a challenge we are committed to.

Penn State has no minimum GPA or standardized test score for admissions. There aren’t any such things as ‘cut-offs. We assess students taking into consideration the full spectrum of aspects.”

With one of the best sporting programs in the United States, it is certainly beneficial when you’re selected as an athlete to be part of one of Penn State’s 29 Division I sports teams. There are more than 800 registered student-athletes who are part of PSU.

First-Year Application Evaluation

The most crucial element of our assessment includes your educational record. It is your personal four years of academic growth.

The Penn State assessment of admissions materials covers the academic course, grades, and the levels of these courses, as well as the scores of standardized tests and other elements that could include an audition, assessment of your portfolio, geographical and cultural background of the applicant and the personal statement and the activities listing.

We look closely at your tasks as a sibling, student and athlete, father or daughter or employee. The mission of assembling a group of students with various interests and backgrounds is an endeavour that we are committed to.

Penn State has no minimum GPA or standardized test score required for admission. There aren’t any such things as “cut-offs.”

Tips for Applying to Penn State

If you are planning to join those 78,000+ Nittany Lion hopefuls in the next admissions period, you need to be aware of the following:

• Penn State does not offer interviews. Thus, the most effective way to tailor the admissions process is to write your essay and personal recommendations.
• Penn State does not consider ” demonstrated interest” a requirement for admissions. That means you cannot gain an advantage by visiting the campus, connecting with social media, contacting an admissions official, etc.
• Apply using the Common Application by November 1 to meet the Early Action deadline. The deadline for Regular Decision is December 1.
• It is mandatory to list the Intended major/program of study on the additional Common App form. Several majors are Direct Admission to PSU.
• Don’t forget that you devote enough time and effort to the additional essay that is required to be submitted by Penn State. There is one “optional” prompt that reads like this:

Tell us about your life experiences or other activities which you believe will improve your chances of excelling in your studies at Penn State. This is your chance to share something about yourself that’s not already within your academic or application transcripts. We recommend a maximum of 500-words or less.

For serious candidates, “optional” essays like this one from PSU aren’t required. This is a great chance to let the committee know your distinctive personality traits, talents and interests that you bring to University Park.

Penn State GPA Requirements

Some schools require a needed upper GPA, but it is usually not enough for applicants to be able to submit their applications without having to worry about being rejected immediately.

The essential GPA requirement is the GPA you must have for a real chance of getting into. To determine this, we look at the average GPA of the school for the current students.

Penn State’s typical GPA of Penn State is 3.58.

(Most schools employ an unweighted GPA of 4.0. However, some schools have a GPA that is not weighted.

With an average GPA of 3.58, Penn State requires that you be close to the average for your class in high school. You’ll need a mixture of A’s and B’s and only a few C’s. If you’re a little lower in GPA, you can compensate by taking more challenging courses such as AP and IB.

This can help increase your GPA weighted by weight and demonstrate the ability to attend college courses.

If you’re in your senior or junior years, your GPA isn’t easy to alter before college applications. If your GPA is below or below your school average, that is 3.58; you’ll need a higher SAT or ACT score to make up for it. This will allow you to stand out from other applicants with higher grades than you.

Pennsylvania State University Out-of-State Acceptance Rate

The acceptance rate outside of the state of Penn State hovers around 42%.

Incredibly, although out-of-state college students account for about 30% of the Penn State student body on the University Park campus, which is Penn’s main campus, 45 per cent of students come from outside the state.

It is important to remember that this is likely since most applicants from out of state are accepted to the University Park campus.

Although the acceptance rate for applicants outside of the state differs year to year, it’s an acceptable guideline to assume that acceptance rates for applicants outside Pennsylvania are approximately ten per cent lower than those for in-state applicants.

The chance to apply as an out-of-state student at Penn State seems to improve yearly. However, the number of international and out-of-state students attending a variety of Penn State campuses is steadily increasing.

In the Scranton branch of the school, for instance, a significant increase in international students from outside the state grew by 2021, from 5-7 per cent of the incoming class to 22%. This is a significant accomplishment for Scranton’s effort to expand its campus.

Penn State University Campuses

Penn State University has 24 campuses across Pennsylvania and globally online:

• Penn State Abington’s suburban campus
• Penn State Altoona
• Penn State Beaver
• Penn State Behrend
• Penn State Berks
• Penn State Brandywine
• Dickinson Law
• Penn State DuBois
• Penn State Fayette
• Penn State Great Valley
• Penn State Greater Allegheny
• Penn State Harrisburg
• Penn State Hazleton
• Penn State Lehigh Valley
• Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State College of Medicine, and Penn State Health Children’s Hospital
• Penn State Lehigh Valley
• Penn State Mont Alto
• Penn State New Kensington
• Penn State Schuylkill
• Penn State Scranton
• Penn State Shenango
• Penn State University Park
• Penn State Wilkes-Barre
• Pennsylvania College of Technology
• Penn State World Campus
• Penn State York

Admission Requirements at Penn State University for International Students

• Self-Reported Academic Record (SARS)
• Secondary School Records
• Postsecondary education records
• English Language Proficiency Proof
  • Duolingo English Exam (accepted temporarily)
• TOEFL
  • • A minimum score of 80 points for the Internet paper edition or paper-based TOEFL
    • A minimum score of 80 is required for the TOEFL IBT Home Edition
  • A minimum score of 550 on TOEFL is required for TOEFL ITP Plus China
• IELTS
  • • A minimum score of 6.5 on the IELTS academic test. IELTS Academic test
  • A minimum score is 6.5 on the test IELTS Indicator
• SAT
  • A minimum score of 570 points on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section
• ACT
  • A minimum score of 24 points in the English section
  • GCE or GCSE score of B, A or C in the English test for language
  • International Baccalaureate (IB) Grade at least 5 in the English Language & Literature (English A) test
  • IECP is an official accreditation issued by Penn State’s Intensive English Communication Program (IECP)

USA Visa Application Process for International Students

After admission, the international student will be informed via their Directorate of International Student and Scholar Advising (DISSA). Students must provide sufficient proof of their finances. .

DISA only process a student’s visa eligibility documents, and students are required to refer directly to their admissions department.

Pennsylvania State University provides an online system known as iStart that hosts a set of instructions before arrival for newly admitted international students.

Students from all countries are provided eForms that must be filled out with biographical and immigration-related details.

The I-20 or DS-19 forms will be issued to satisfy those who need to meet US Student Visa conditions once all documents have been completed, submitted, and reviewed.

Students admitted to the program are required to be able to pay for the SEVIS fee within three days before their visa interview.

When they schedule an appointment at the US Embassy/Consulate, they must ensure they have the required documents. Once approved, the stamp will be given to their passport.

Should I Apply to Penn State?

Penn State students generally sport A-/B+ scores and average scores on standardized tests at the 80th percentile for all test takers. Keep in mind that Penn State has a 58 per cent acceptance rate, meaning that they take in more students than they turn down.

If you aren’t in the top 5 per cent of those numbers, there’s the chance you will be accepted to one of the 19 branch campuses that are spread throughout all of Pennsylvania.

In conclusion, we wish to remind all high school students planning to attend college must create an appropriate list of colleges that includes a mix of “target” and “safety” schools.

This can be accomplished by working with an admissions specialist knowledgeable of the most recent developments and strategies associated with the colleges you’re considering.

Penn State University World Rankings

Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Ranking 2021 ranked Pennsylvania State University as fourth in the United States and 32nd in the world, out of 1115 universities worldwide.

Based on U.S. News & World Report in 2022, Penn State University has been ranked 80th in the list of top world universities in terms of high academic standards and excellence in research.

Based on the QS World University Rankings in 2022, Pennsylvania State University is placed at 96th place globally.

According to THE World University ranking, among the 1600 universities in the world, Pennsylvania State University is in 119th position in 2022.

Penn State University Location

Penn State University has different campuses throughout Pennsylvania. The state of Pennsylvania. The central campus, as well as the administrative hub, is known as University Park. University Park is located in the town known as State College.

There are 19 additional campuses, and students can pursue an undergraduate degree each. All 19 campuses are to be a member of the Penn State Commonwealth campuses, which all offer Penn State baccalaureate degrees.

Five campuses are deemed to be “college” campuses. Those five are Penn State Abington, Penn State Altoona, Penn State Berks, Penn State Behrend, and Penn State Harrisburg.

It is important to note that even though the initial two years of study on each Penn State major are available on all campuses, certain majors require completion on specific campuses.

University Park is located in the United States. University Park campus is centrally situated between Interstate 99 and U.S. Route 322 and north of Interstate 80.

The closest station for trains is located in Lewistown, located approximately 48 kilometres from University park, but taking the train isn’t an ideal option.

The University Park Airport (SCE) is the closest airport to State College. It is situated approximately five miles away from the campus.

The airlines operating at University Park Airport are: Delta Airlines Connection (from Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) located in Detroit, MI; United Airlines (from Dulles International Airport (IAD) in Washington DC); US Airways (from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) located in Philadelphia.

In terms of bus service, Megabus Megabus offers non-stop service to New York City, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, and Philadelphia, as well as continuing service from other areas located in Ohio along with Michigan. If tickets are purchased in advance, the keys can be as low as $10.00.

Penn State University Map Location

Address: 201 Old Main, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, United States

Contact The Penn State University

Undergraduate Admissions Office

The Pennsylvania State University
201 Shields Building
University Park, PA 16802

Email: admissions@psu.edu
Phone: 814-865-5471
Fax: 814-863-7590

Office Hours

8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday- Friday

Phone Hours

12:30 – 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday

Drop-in Counseling Hours

9:00 a.m. – Noon and 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Monday – Friday

Penn State University Acceptance Rate FAQ