Your chances of getting into Penn State Main Campus
Admission Rate & Difficulty
Acceptance Rate
The acceptance rate at Penn State is 55.2%. Its admission rate is the 18th lowest in Pennsylvania.
Admission Selectivity
How hard is it to get into Penn State and can you get accepted?
Penn State is a more competitive school to get into. You have a good chance of acceptance if you meet the admission criteria. Last year, 47,360 out of the 85,784 who applied were admitted.
19% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.
Can you get into Penn State?
55% are accepted, can you get in? Use the admission calculator to see if you have the grades and test scores needed to get in. See your admission chances based on your extracurriculars, intended major, background, and more.
Admission Requirements in Brief
To have the best chance of getting into to Penn State Main Campus you should:
- Score 1300 on the SAT
- Score 28 on the ACT
Penn State GPA
GPA Requirements & Average GPA
Penn State Main Campus has not reported high school GPA data for its accepted students.
Penn State SAT Scores
Testing Requirements
Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required for admission to Penn State Main Campus. If you optionally submit test scores, they will be considered with your application, but they are not mandatory. 38% of students submitted SAT scores and 7% submitted ACT scores for admission for the most recent academic year..
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| Reading 25th Percentile | 600 |
| Math 25th Percentile | 610 |
| Composite 25th Percentile | 1210 |
| SAT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| Reading 75th Percentile | 680 |
| Math 75th Percentile | 710 |
| Composite 75th Percentile | 1390 |
| Average SAT Score | 1300
|
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for you to be admitted to Penn State Main Campus?
Average Score & Range
The average SAT score at Penn State is 1300 out of 1600 and the range for the middle 50% of accepted students is 1210-1390. Students who get into Penn State Main Campus score in the top 23 percent of all SAT test takers.. Penn State ranks #15 in the state of Pennsylvania and #187 in the nation for highest average SAT composite score.
Score for Acceptance
You should target scoring 1300 or above to be most competitive with other applicants. Penn State regularly admits students with SAT scores down to 1210 on a 1600 scale. However, three quarter of admitted students score higher. If you score below a 1210, admission should be considered a reach. Some students may be accepted with minimum SAT's as low as 1120, but scores this low are outside the normal range.
Score Submission Requirements
Penn State Main Campus is a test optional school meaning do not have to submit SAT scores with your application. The position on SAT scores from the college is "not required for admission, but considered if submitted (test optional)".
View other colleges which accept students in the 1300 SAT score range.
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2022 starting classChance of Acceptance by SAT Score
The table below outlines your predicted admission chances based on SAT score alone. If you are an average applicant with a score of 1300, you have around a 55% chance of being admitted. A 1390 places you well ahead of most other applicants and gives you about a 70% chance of getting in.
Penn State ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| Reading 25th Percentile | 25 |
| Math 25th Percentile | 25 |
| Composite 25th Percentile | 26 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| Reading 75th Percentile | 33 |
| Math 75th Percentile | 31 |
| Composite 75th Percentile | 31 |
| Average ACT Score | 28
|
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for students to get into Penn State?
Score Range
The average ACT score for admitted students to Penn State is 28, while the middle 50% of students (25th to 75th percentile) score between a 26 and 31. The school ranks #20 in Pennsylvania and #230 in the U.S. for highest average ACT composite score.
Score for Acceptance
For the best chance of admission, you should have an ACT of 28. This will place you in solid competition against other applicants. At a minimum, you should aim for a 26 and score in the score in the top 18 percent nationally. The lowest ACT score likely to be admitted is a 24.
7 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Penn State Main Campus.
Score Submission Requirements
You do not have to to submit ACT scores with your application as Penn State Main Campus is test optional. The policy from the school on ACT scores is "not required for admission, but considered if submitted (test optional)".
Find other colleges with similar ACT score requirements
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2022 starting classChance of Acceptance by ACT Score
Here are your predicted chances of getting into Penn State for different ACT score ranges. A typical applicant with a 28 score has around 55% chance of getting in. Your odds increase to about 73% with a 31 ACT score.
Applying
Admission Statistics
Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed the the table below.
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 46,114 | 39,364 | 85,784 |
| Accepted | 26,476 | 20,723 | 47,360 |
| Acceptance Rate | 57% | 53% | 55% |
| Enrolled | 4,485 | 4,689 | 9,216 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 17% | 23% | 19% |
Application Fee
The cost for prospective students to apply to Penn State Main Campus is $65.
Application Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to Penn State Main Campus and what student information is used for admission decisions?
| 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 |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | Yes |
| Credit for Life Experiences | Yes |
Other Colleges to Apply To
Students applying to Penn State Main Campus often consider these colleges
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=214777 IPEDS survey data for Penn State Main Campus.
FAQs
Does Penn State Main Campus prefer SAT or ACT?
38% of students submit their SAT scores to Penn State. 7% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into Penn State Main Campus?
55% of those who apply are granted admission to Penn State. Admission competition is low and the college has very high admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission.
What SAT score is required for Penn State Main Campus?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 1210 and 1390. The average SAT score is 1300. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission.
What ACT score is required for Penn State Main Campus?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 26 and 31. The average ACT score is 28. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.