Penn State: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus · University Park, Pennsylvania · Public · Moderately selective · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-optional
- Early Action
- 106,547
- Applicants
- 58,952
- Admitted55%
- 9,148
- Enrolled
- 16%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Moderately selective55% admittedRanked #55 (tie) in National Universities; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #22 (tie), Business Programs #24 (tie), Computer Science #34 (tie), Nursing #56 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus (see the source), read on 2026-10-21. The admission-factor grid was re-read from that file to confirm each weighting.
Is Penn State a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Penn State against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Penn State is a public university in University Park, Pennsylvania that admits about 55% of applicants, making it a moderately selective school. The average family pays about $32,875 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Finance and Financial Management Services, Information Science/Studies and Psychology, General, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 85% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 4.1 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Penn State is a public institution located in University Park, Pennsylvania with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Penn State admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 55%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT around 1340. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $32,875 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What parents should know about Penn State right now
Pennsylvania State University, founded in 1855 as the Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania and named the state's first land-grant university in 1863, is a public state-related research university whose primary campus, University Park, sits in State College in Centre County. Penn State enrolls more than 88,000 students across University Park and its 19 Commonwealth Campuses, making it one of the largest universities in the country and a defining Big Ten institution. Distinctive strengths include the Smeal College of Business, the College of Engineering, and the Schreyer Honors College, which functions as a highly selective scholarship community within the larger university and is a major draw for high-achieving applicants. Parents should pay particular attention to Penn State's 2+2 plan, in which many admitted students begin at a Commonwealth Campus before transitioning to University Park; understanding this structure is essential when reading admit letters. Penn State has continued a test-optional policy for first-year applicants in recent cycles and conducts a holistic review weighted toward high school GPA and rigor. On affordability, the Discover Penn State and Pathway to Success Summer Start programs steer students toward earlier matriculation paths and aid eligibility, and 2024 saw expanded Pell-eligible aid commitments. Recent news of interest includes ongoing leadership transitions and continued investment in the new health sciences buildings on the University Park campus.
What GPA does my child need for Penn State?
75% of enrolled students at Penn State had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.67, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
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What does Penn State weight in admissions?
Penn State reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
1- Academic GPA
Important
1- Rigor of secondary school record
Considered
4- Standardized test scores
- Talent/ability
- Geographical residence
- State residency
Not Considered
12- Class rank
- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Interview
- Extracurricular activities
- Character/personal qualities
- First generation status
- Alumni/ae relation
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores Penn State typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 620–720. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 27–32. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.
| 25th percentile | 1280 |
| 50th percentile | 1340 |
| 75th percentile | 1410 |
| % submitting SAT | 28.6% |
| 25th percentile | 28 |
| 50th percentile | 30 |
| 75th percentile | 32 |
| % submitting ACT | 4.98% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Test-optional for first-years; Accelerated Premedical-Medical (BS/MD) applicants must submit SAT/ACT. Uses highest single sitting, no superscore.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Penn State's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 37% |
| Top 25% of class | 74% |
| Top 50% of class | 96% |
| % submitting class rank | 33% |
How much does Penn State actually cost?
Published tuition is $20,644 for in-state students and $41,790 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $14,474 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $32,875 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 14% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $20,878 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $44,574 |
| Room and board | $15,968 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $32,875 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 69% |
| Average need-based grant | $8,430 |
| Average merit award, no financial need445 first-year students received one | $6,686 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 53% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $52,196 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $65 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Penn State
| Notification date | 10/01 |
| Reply deadline | 05/01 |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
| EA deadline | November 1 |
Will my child graduate from Penn State?
These predict outcomes at Penn State better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Penn State
The most popular undergraduate programs at Penn State, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Finance and Financial Management Services, Information Science/Studies and Psychology, General. Across all programs, Penn State confers roughly 3,030 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Finance and Financial Management Services program report a median income of about $105,563 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 449 | $105,563 |
| Information Science/Studies | 448 | $92,982 |
| Psychology, General | 427 | $51,142 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 395 | $116,013 |
| Economics | 369 | $87,517 |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | 338 | $80,065 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 311 | $90,200 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 293 | $77,241 |
Is Penn State safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Penn State disclosed 174 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 4.1 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 43 violent offenses and 84 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Penn State?
About 35% of undergraduates at Penn State live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in Pennsylvania parents ask about
Next steps for Penn State
Common questions parents ask about Penn State
What GPA do I need for Penn State?
75% of enrolled students at Penn State had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.67, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does Penn State typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 620–720. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 27–32.
How much does Penn State actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Penn State after grants and scholarships is $32,875 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $20,644 and $41,790 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is Penn State realistic for my child?
Penn State admits 55% of applicants, so 620–720 SAT Math is target range and below 620 is a reach. Then check the $32,875 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Penn State?
Penn State accepts about 55% of applicants out of roughly 106,547 who apply each year. That makes it a moderately selective school.
Is Penn State test-optional?
Yes. Penn State is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered. Test-optional for first-years; Accelerated Premedical-Medical (BS/MD) applicants must submit SAT/ACT. Uses highest single sitting, no superscore.
What is the graduation rate at Penn State?
About 85% of students at Penn State graduate within six years. 92% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does Penn State look for in applicants?
Penn State rates GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Penn State a public or private school, and where is it located?
Penn State is a public institution located in University Park, Pennsylvania.
What are the most popular majors at Penn State?
The largest undergraduate majors at Penn State by annual graduates are Finance and Financial Management Services, Information Science/Studies and Psychology, General. The school awards about 3,030 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Penn State safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Penn State reported 174 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 4.1 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Penn State?
At Penn State, 35% of undergraduates live on campus, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers