Penn State Main Campus campus

credit : ewg4xuva | license

Penn State Admission Requirements

  • 8/10 Overall Rating
  • 4 Year
  • University Park, PA
  • 4.2 12 reviews
#2 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania
Overview Admission Cost Majors Diversity Outcomes Salaries Location Compare Reviews Admission Calculator

Penn State Admission Overview

Penn State admission requirements are moderately competitive. Last year Penn State admitted 60.6% of applicants. Enrolled freshmen who sent tests typically scored SAT 1240-1420 / ACT 27-32. Penn State is test-optional, so you choose whether to send SAT or ACT. Those figures describe last year's class, not a score you must hit.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Penn State Acceptance Rate

Admission Rate & Difficulty

Acceptance rate

60.6%

Admission Standards

Very High

Applicant Competition

Low

Very Low
Low
Average
High
Very High
Extreme

Admission difficulty for Penn State Main Campus

Acceptance Rate

The Penn State acceptance rate is 60.6%. Last year, 53,579 of 88,478 applicants were admitted. That is the 26th lowest acceptance rate in Pennsylvania.

Admission Selectivity

How hard is it to get into Penn State and can you get accepted?

Penn State is a moderately competitive school to get into, admitting a large majority of applicants. You have a strong chance of acceptance if you meet last year's profile. Getting an offer is relatively likely compared with more selective schools, but last year's class still posted a strong academic profile.

17% of those admitted chose to enroll.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Penn State GPA

Penn State considers GPA but does not publish an average for enrolled freshmen. Check the school's site for current practice.

Penn State Test Policy

Test Submission Requirements

Penn State is test-optional for first-year applicants. SAT or ACT scores are not required for admission to any major. Students who want scores considered may self-report them in MyPennState; Penn State uses the highest combined score from a single test date and does not superscore. The optional ACT Science section is not required or accepted. Official scores from the testing agency are required only if you enroll after submitting scores. Applicants to the Accelerated Premedical-Medical Program must submit SAT or ACT scores by the program's October 13 deadline.

Cycle: 2026-27. Source: https://www.psu.edu/resources/faq/test-optional

Penn State SAT Scores

SAT scores of enrolled freshmen

SAT Range

1240-1420

Freshmen who sent SAT

31%

25th Percentile Scores

  • Reading 620
  • Math 620
  • Composite 1240
SAT 25th percentile scores for Penn State Main Campus

75th Percentile Scores

  • Reading 700
  • Math 720
  • Composite 1420
SAT 75th percentile scores for Penn State Main Campus

Average SAT

Enrolled testers at Penn State typically score around a 1330 SAT (middle 50% 1240–1420) out of 1600. That is last year's class, not a cutoff. The average SAT of enrolled testers is about the 90th percentile nationally. Penn State ranks #16 in the state of Pennsylvania and #165 in the nation for highest average SAT composite score.

SAT Range (25th-75th Percentile) 1240 to 1420

800 1000 1200 1400 1600

SAT policy

Penn State is test-optional. You choose whether to send SAT. If you send a score, it is considered.

View other colleges which accept students in the 1330 SAT score range.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

How SAT scores compare with last year's enrolled testers

This table compares SAT ranges with last year's enrolled testers and the school's acceptance rate. It is not a personal chance of admission. If you withhold SAT, skip this table.

SAT ranges vs last year's enrolled testers at Penn State Main Campus
SAT Score (1600 scale) Competitiveness Admission Chances
1420+ Above 75th >75%
1330 to 1420 Avg + 61%-75%
1240 to 1330 Avg - 45%-61%
Below 1240 Below mid-50 <45%

What do these figures mean?

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Penn State ACT Scores

ACT scores among enrolled freshmen

ACT Range

27-32

Freshmen reporting ACT

5%

25th Percentile Scores

  • English 26
  • Math 26
  • Composite 27
ACT 25th percentile scores for Penn State Main Campus

75th Percentile Scores

  • English 33
  • Math 31
  • Composite 32
ACT 75th percentile scores for Penn State Main Campus

Average ACT

Incoming testers at Penn State typically have around a 29 ACT (mid-50 27–32) on the 36 scale. That reflects last year's enrolled testers, not a cutoff. That average sits near the 91st percentile of ACT takers nationwide. Penn State places #19 among colleges in Pennsylvania and #187 nationwide for highest average ACT composite.

ACT Range (25th-75th Percentile) 27 to 32

1 9 18 27 36

ACT policy

You may apply to Penn State without ACT. A score you do send is still reviewed.

See colleges with similar ACT profiles in the 29.0 ACT score range.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

How ACT scores compare with last year's enrolled testers

This table compares ACT ranges with last year's enrolled testers and the school's acceptance rate. They are not your individual odds. If you leave ACT off your application, you can skip this table.

ACT bands compared with last year's enrolled testers at Penn State Main Campus
ACT Score (36 scale) Competitiveness Admission Chances
32+ Above 75th >77%
29 to 32 Avg + 61%-77%
27 to 29 Avg - 48%-61%
Below 27 Below mid-50 <48%

How to read these figures

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Estimate How You Compare

See how your GPA and scores compare with last year's enrolled testers. You can mark that you will withhold scores.

Open the Penn State chances calculator

Applying

Admission Statistics

Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed in the table below.

Penn State Main Campus admission statistics
Women Men Total
Applied 47,118 40,752 88,478
Accepted 29,600 23,582 53,579
Acceptance Rate 63% 58% 61%
Enrolled 4,645 4,459 9,169
Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) 16% 19% 17%

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Application Requirements

What are the requirements for admission to Penn State Main Campus and what student information is used for admission decisions?

Penn State Main Campus application requirements
Requirement Used for Admission
Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
High School GPA Required to be considered for admission
High School Class Rank Not considered for admission, even if submitted
Completion of College Preparatory Program Not required for admission, but considered if submitted
Recommendations Not considered for admission, even if submitted
Demonstration of Competencies Not considered for admission, even if submitted

Test scores: school admissions site, 2026-27. Other fields: IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Application Fee

The cost for prospective students to apply to Penn State Main Campus is $65.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Credits Accepted

High school credits accepted at Penn State Main Campus
Credit Type Accepted
AP Credit Yes
Dual Credit Yes
Credit for Life Experiences Yes

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Admission summary

Penn State is test-optional for 2026-27. Last year it admitted 60.6% of applicants. Send SAT/ACT if you are at or above this campus mid-50 (1240-1420); otherwise withhold. Mid-50 scores, where shown, are enrolled testers, not cutoffs.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Other Colleges to Apply To

Students applying to Penn State Main Campus often consider these colleges

Data source: NCES / IPEDS https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=214777.

GPA calculator: Penn State Main Campus GPA calculator.

Last updated: August 2026