Penn State Harrisburg Admission Requirements

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Middletown, PA
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Penn State Harrisburg Admission Overview

Penn State Harrisburg admission requirements are summarized from last year's class. Last year Penn State Harrisburg admitted 97.6% of applicants. Enrolled freshmen who sent tests typically scored SAT 1120-1310 / ACT 22-31. Penn State Harrisburg 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 Harrisburg is test-optional. You choose whether to send SAT or ACT.

Source: IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Penn State Harrisburg Acceptance Rate

Admission Rate & Difficulty

Acceptance rate

97.6%

Admission Standards

Difficult

Applicant Competition

Very Low

Low

Average

High

Very High

Extreme

Acceptance Rate

The Penn State Harrisburg acceptance rate is 97.6%. Last year, 9,092 of 9,316 applicants were admitted. That is the 116th lowest acceptance rate in Pennsylvania.

Admission Selectivity

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

Penn State Harrisburg is an easy school to get into, admitting most applicants. You have a very good 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.

11% of those admitted chose to enroll.

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

Penn State Harrisburg GPA

GPA of enrolled freshmen

Estimated High School GPA

3.48*

Typical High School Grades

B+

Estimated GPA (4.0 Scale) 3.48*

0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0

Average GPA

Penn State Harrisburg has not published an average GPA for enrolled freshmen. CollegeSimply estimates about a 3.48 GPA (B+) on a 4.0 scale, based on this school's test scores and GPA data from similar colleges. That is an estimate, not a school-reported average. Penn State Harrisburg is test-optional. If you withhold SAT or ACT, GPA carries more weight.

See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 3.5 GPA range.

*3.48 is a CollegeSimply estimate, not a school-reported average. It is modeled from this school's test scores and GPA data from similar colleges.

Penn State Harrisburg SAT Scores

SAT scores of enrolled freshmen

SAT Range

1120-1310

Freshmen who sent SAT

23%

25th Percentile Scores

Reading 550
Math 570
Composite 1120

75th Percentile Scores

Reading 650
Math 660
Composite 1310

Average SAT

Enrolled testers at Penn State Harrisburg typically score around a 1220 SAT (middle 50% 1120–1310) out of 1600. That is last year's class, not a cutoff. The average SAT of enrolled testers is about the 78th percentile nationally. Penn State Harrisburg ranks #32 in the state of Pennsylvania for highest average SAT composite score.

SAT Range (25th-75th Percentile) 1120 to 1310

800 1000 1200 1400 1600

SAT policy

Penn State Harrisburg 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 1220 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 Harrisburg
SAT Score (1600 scale)	Competitiveness	Admission Chances
1310+	Above 75th	>99%
1220 to 1310	Avg +	98%-99%
1120 to 1220	Avg -	96%-98%
Below 1120	Below mid-50	<96%

What do these figures mean?

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

Penn State Harrisburg ACT Scores

ACT scores among enrolled freshmen

ACT Range

22-31

Freshmen reporting ACT

25th Percentile Scores

English 20
Math 23
Composite 22

75th Percentile Scores

English 31
Math 31
Composite 31

Average ACT

Incoming testers at Penn State Harrisburg typically have around a 26 ACT (mid-50 22–31) on the 36 scale. That reflects last year's enrolled testers, not a cutoff. That average sits near the 82nd percentile of ACT takers nationwide. Penn State Harrisburg places #32 among colleges in Pennsylvania for highest average ACT composite.

ACT Range (25th-75th Percentile) 22 to 31

1 9 18 27 36

ACT policy

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

See colleges with similar ACT profiles in the 26.0 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 Harrisburg
ACT Score (36 scale)	Competitiveness	Admission Chances
31+	Above 75th	>99%
26 to 31	Avg +	98%-99%
22 to 26	Avg -	97%-98%
Below 22	Below mid-50	<97%

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 Harrisburg chances calculator

Applying

Admission Statistics

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

Penn State Harrisburg admission statistics
	Women	Men	Total
Applied	4,357	4,890	9,316
Accepted	4,252	4,772	9,092
Acceptance Rate	98%	98%	98%
Enrolled	406	603	1,022
Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield)	10%	13%	11%

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

Application Requirements

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

Penn State Harrisburg 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

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

Application Fee

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

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

Credits Accepted

High school credits accepted at Penn State Harrisburg
Credit Type	Accepted
AP Credit	Yes
Dual Credit	Yes
Credit for Life Experiences	No

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

Admission summary

Penn State Harrisburg is test-optional for 2024-25. Last year it admitted 97.6% of applicants. Send SAT/ACT if you are at or above this campus mid-50 (1120-1310); otherwise withhold. Mid-50 scores, where shown, are enrolled testers, not cutoffs.

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