Penn State Admission Requirements
University Park, PennsylvaniaChances of getting into Penn State Main Campus
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance Rate
56.5%| Measure | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|
| Admission Standards | Very High | |
| Applicant Competition | Average |
How hard is it to get into Penn State and can I get accepted? The school has a 56% acceptance rate ranking it #22 in Pennsylvania for lowest rate of acceptance. Last year, 29,793 out of 52,742 applicants were admitted making Penn State a more competitive school to get into with a good chance of acceptance for qualifying applicants. Academically, it has very high requirements for admission test scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 26 percent. Penn State Main Campus typically accepts and attracts "B+" average high school students. Only 27% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school. Most incoming freshmen graduated in the top quarter of their high school class.
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Calculate My ChancesPenn State SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
SAT Range
1160-1360Applicants Submitting SAT
74%| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 580 |
| SAT Math 25th | 580 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1160 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 660 |
| SAT Math 75th | 700 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1360 |
| Average SAT Score | 1260 |
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to Penn State Main Campus?
Penn State Main Campus typically requires applicants to be in the top 31 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1160 on a 1600 scale, below which admission should be considered a reach. We estimate some students could be accepted with SAT's as low as 1060. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1260 out of 1600. The school ranks #12 in Pennsylvania for highest average SAT composite score. A competitive SAT score is critical as 74 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school. Note: SAT scores presented on this page have been adjusted upwards per the College Board's concordance tables for test takers after March 2016.
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Estimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
| SAT Score (1600 scale) | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 1360 and Above | Good | >68% |
| 1260 to 1360 | Avg + | 56%-68% |
| 1160 to 1260 | Avg - | 43%-56% |
| 1060 to 1160 | Reach | 31%-43% |
| Less than 1060 | Low | <31% |
Penn State ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
ACT Range
25-30Applicants Submitting ACT
22%| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 25 |
| ACT Math 25th | 25 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 25 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 33 |
| ACT Math 75th | 30 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 30 |
| Average ACT Score | 27 |
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into Penn State?
Admission data indicates that Penn State regularly accepts students with ACT's of 25 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 22 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 22 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 28 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants - and students with a 30 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #13 in Pennsylvania for highest average ACT composite score. 22 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Penn State Main Campus.
Estimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
| ACT Score | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 30 and Above | Good | >71% |
| 27 to 30 | Avg + | 56%-71% |
| 25 to 27 | Avg - | 45%-56% |
| 23 to 25 | Reach | 35%-45% |
| Less than 23 | Low | <35% |
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
Avg. High School GPA
3.59Typical High School Grades
B+You will need very good grades in high school to get into Penn State Main Campus. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at Penn State Main Campus was 3.59 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily B+ students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #18 in Pennsylvania for highest average GPA. If your high school GPA meets these requirements, there is a good chance you will be accepted as Penn State accepts 56% of students who apply.
| High School GPA | Freshmen Within Range | Competitiveness |
|---|---|---|
| 3.75+ | 34% | Good |
| 3.50 to 3.75 | 31% | Avg + |
| 3.25 to 3.50 | 23% | Avg - |
| 3.00 to 3.25 | 8% | Reach |
| 2.75 to 3.00 | 3% | Reach |
| 2.50 to 2.75 | 1% | Reach |
| 2.25 to 2.50 | N/A% | Low |
| 2.00 to 2.25 | N/A% | Low |
High School Class Rank
84% of Penn State Main Campus freshman were in the top twenty five percent of their high school graduating class.
| High School Class Rank | Freshmen Within Range |
|---|---|
| Top 10% of class | 41% |
| Top 25% of class | 84% |
| Top 50% of class | 98% |
| Bottom 50% of class | 2% |
| Bottom 25% of class | 0% |
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 26,654 | 26,088 | 52,742 |
| Accepted | 16,112 | 13,681 | 29,793 |
| Acceptance Rate | 60% | 52% | 56% |
| Enrolled | 4,005 | 4,070 | 8,075 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 25% | 30% | 27% |
Admission Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to Penn State Main Campus and what considerations affect admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Required |
| High School GPA | Required |
| High School Class Rank | Recommended |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Recommended |
| Recommendations | Neither required nor recommended |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Neither required nor recommended |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | Yes |
| Credit for Life Experiences | Yes |
Other Colleges to Consider
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=214777 IPEDS survey data for Penn State Main Campus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Penn State Main Campus prefer SAT or ACT?
74% of students submit their SAT scores to Penn State. 22% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into Penn State Main Campus?
56% 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 1160 and 1360. 74% of students submit SAT scores when applying. 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 25 and 30. 22% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.
