Public research university, Pennsylvania State is a distinguished academic institution in Pennsylvania, in the US. The institution was founded in 1855 and is recognized for doing considerable research across numerous areas. It is recognized among the “Public Ivies” and is well-known for its iconic University Park campus. Land, sea, space, and sun-grant research are among the four types of research consortia that the institution receives. Penn State spent roughly $836 million on research in 2016, as per Wiki.
In this article, we will look at the Penn State acceptance rate, admission process, and other essential statistics.
Stats for Penn State acceptance rate
Collected from the official PSU admissions portal, the data below reflect the application of best picks for the summer/fall of 2021. These aren’t standards or cut-off marks.
Type |
Scores for the main campus (University Park) |
Scores for all other campuses |
High School GPA |
3.56 to 3.91 |
3.06 to 3.65 |
SAT |
1280 to 1450 |
1090 to 1300 |
Composite ACT |
29 to 33 |
23 to 30 |
Here is the number of applicants Penn State received in 2019
Is getting into Penn State University difficult?
It can be quite challenging to get into Penn State, even if it isn’t as challenging as Caltech or Harvard. Students having school GPAs that are more than the school average and top percentile SAT & ACT grades are selected through a somewhat difficult procedure, as seen by the numbers.
Penn State is a highly selective public university that is one of the most rigorous in the country. Therefore, the likelihood of an applicant being chosen is determined by the application strength and their educational profiles.
Continue reading to find out your odds of getting into Penn State now that you know the Penn State acceptance rate. Finally, find out your chances of being accepted and recommendations on how to enhance your application.
Admission process and other important facts related to Penn State acceptance rate
Requirements for application
The applicant’s GPA is one element stressed at Penn State throughout the admissions process. The quality of one’s high school record is regarded as crucial. Six more parameters are considered in addition to the applicant’s GPA:
The university had to make the test-optional for the 2020-21 applications season owing to the Covid-19 outbreak. However, as per sources, entrance tests will be optional until Summer/Fall 2023.
Here is what the admissions department of Penn State University had to say:
What the university looks for in your application?
To better understand, let us take a look at the grade point averages of the students who were accepted at Penn State University.
A weighted average of 4.0 is often used in most schools in the US. Accepted students at Penn State University have GPAs that range around 3.558. For a 3.5 GPA, a balance of As and Bs, or at least Cs, would be beneficial. Each of Penn State’s campuses has the same prerequisite.
Standardized Test |
Main Campus/University Park |
All other campuses |
Average middle 50% test scores for SAT |
1280 to 1450 |
1090 to 1300 |
Average middle scores for ACT |
29 to 33 |
23 to 30 |
School GPA has been the essential criteria in the application process, as per the 2020–21 Common Data Set of Penn State. Furthermore, a strong high school record is a factor that is also considered.
Besides these two factors, Penn State University is particularly interested in the following aspects.
The following aspects are not deemed necessary in the admission process
The degree of competition in course offerings at Penn State fluctuates across campuses. Admissions to the University Park’s main campus are the most difficult. On the other hand, some specific programmes are even more difficult.
The candidate’s academic record is the crucial aspect of the entire application. It is particularly true as the University does not consider things like essays, references, extracurricular, and so on.
Enhancing your chances:
Now that you have a good idea about the Penn State acceptance rates and the different aspects of the admission process let us understand how we can enhance our chances of successfully getting into Penn State.
The Academic Index is used by most graduate institutions, notably well-known institutions like Penn State. Before considering anything else, this statistic integrates academic parameters used by Ivy League colleges to rate candidates’ competence and analyze applications. It allows them to sieve through the tens of thousands of applicants they get each school year.
If you are looking to increase your chances of being chosen, make sure you have the required qualifications and a good GPA. Then, participate in the most demanding curriculum offered at your high school to push yourself to the limit. Complete as many AP (Advanced Placement) and honours classes as possible each year. It will help enhance your chances.
Make every effort to get the top half of the middle 50% of standardized exam results. The requirement for SAT is roughly 1450 points, while for the ACT, it is around 33 points (University Park campus). Because the COVID-19 test-optional regulations made things relatively lax, it’s fine if you stand within the allowed average score band. It is, nonetheless, preferable to have a score over the 25th percentile for better chances.
Penn State Early Action is a programme for undergraduate students in their first year. Students must submit a comprehensive application and a Self-Reported Academic Record by the first of November. You can also submit you’re SAT or ACT scores.
Students who apply under the Early Action plan get notification of their decision by the 24th of December and, if qualified, get eligible for the financial assistance granting procedure. The entire procedure is non-binding, and students must make their deposit or enrol at Penn State by May 1 of the next year.
The Penn State acceptance rate is relatively higher for the summer term. Therefore, if you want to attend the main campus at University Park, try to apply during the summer term to improve your acceptance chances.
It shows that you will be prepared to begin classes early during the summer term. The institution will review your application, and you will be considered for your first-choice semester. If they cannot grant entry, they will reconsider you for the next session’s start date.
Ans. Penn State University is ranked among the top 50 universities globally by QS World University Rankings.
Ans. The Penn State acceptance rate for the previous academic session was around 54.2.
Ans. Students will need to maintain at least a 3.56 GPA in their high school if they want to apply for the main campus at University Park.
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