Penn State University Park

It is very difficult to get into Penn State - University Park. The acceptance rate at Penn State - University Park is 55%. Out of 85,784 applications received in 2023, 47,360 students were offered admission.

If you are thinking about applying to Penn State - University Park, the fee for the application is $65.

Students who submit their applications to Penn State - University Park for the fall semester should receive an admissions decision no later than October 1.

Penn State - University Park Admissions Stats at a Glance

Here's an overiew of some of Penn State - University Park's admissions stats.

Penn State - University Park 2023	Admissions Statistics
Mean Unweighted GPA	3.7
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class	33%
Admissions Test Policy	Not optional
Applicants Who Submit SATs	38%
Applicants Who Submit ACTs	7%
Waitlist	Yes

Penn State - University Park Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for Penn State - University Park.

Application Type	Offered	Application Deadline	Notification Deadline
Early Decision I	No	–	–
Early Decision II	–	–	–
Early Action	Yes	November 1	December 24

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Applying Early to Penn State - University Park?

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Penn State - University Park does not offer early decision but does offer early action.

🗓️ The Early Action deadline is November 1. Penn State - University Park will release EA admissions decisions no later than December 24.

Some students apply early to increase their chances of getting in. When you apply early, your application is considered before all the regular decision applicants apply. Applying early may increase the chance of acceptance, since it demonstrates that you are very interested in a school.

➡️ Explore a list of some competetive colleges that accept significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.

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More on Penn State - University Park Admissions

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Is Penn State - University Park Hard To Get Into?

Getting into Penn State is very difficult. Penn State has open admissions, which means admission is not competitive and any applicants that met the basic requirements can enroll.

In 2022, Penn State accepted 55% of students, about 47,360 from the 85,784 applicants.

Schools that are very difficult to get into, like Penn State, accept fewer than 60% of all applicants. At least 50% of all admitted students have GPAs in the top 10% of their high school class and scored over 1230 on the SAT and over 26 on the ACT.

Transferring to Penn State - University Park

For more information on transferring to Penn State - University Park, contact the school directly.

For Students Waitlisted to Penn State - University Park

Penn State - University Park has not reported data for waitlisted and admitted students.

What Does Penn State - University Park Look For in an Applicant?

Colleges consider a range of factors when deciding who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college decides which factors are are most important when choose which applicants to admit, and which to deny. When creating your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and choose schools that prioritize the admissions factors where you shine.

Admissions Factors at Penn State - University Park

Curious about the factors that are considered by Penn State - University Park during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor	Level
Academic GPA	Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record	Important
Alumni/ae Relations	Considered
Geographical Residence	Considered
Racial/Ethnic Status	Considered
Standardized Test Scores	Considered
State Residency	Considered
Talent/Ability	Considered

Make sure to check with Penn State - University Park for more information on admission factors.

Penn State - University Park 2022-2023 Application Requirements

To apply to Penn State - University Park, all applicants must submit the following items. Make sure to check in with Penn State - University Park's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area	Required	Recommended	Required for Some	Details (If Any)
Transcript(S) of College Record	–	–	–	–
Transcript of High School Record	–	–	–	–

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GPA and Testing

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What GPA Do I Need To Get Into Penn State - University Park?

Students admitted to Penn State - University Park have an average unweighted GPA of 3.7.

Out of all students that were admitted, 32.2% submitted a class rank. At Penn State - University Park 33% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 68% were in the top 25% and 93% were in the top 50%.

GPAs of Admitted Students

At Penn State - University Park, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.

GPA	Percent of Students
4.0 GPA	–
3.75 and 3.99	47.91%
3.50 and 3.74	25.87%
3.25 and 3.49	16.55%
3.00 and 3.24	7.41%
2.50 and 2.9	1.98%
2.00 and 2.49	0.27%

This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.

Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to Penn State - University Park directly.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that highlights your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

Penn State - University Park does not have a test optional admissions policy. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

In 2022, 38% of Penn State - University Park's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 7% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.

What is a Good SAT Score for Penn State - University Park?

To be competitive with other Penn State - University Park applicants, you should strive to score between 1220 and 1380 (or higher!) on the SAT. At Penn State - University Park 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1380 and 25% of scored lower than 1220, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.

On the SAT Math Section, 25% of Penn State - University Park students scored 710 or higher and 75% of students scored 600 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of Penn State - University Park students scored 680 or higher, and 75% scored a 600 or higher.

To be most competitive at Penn State - University Park, you should strive to earn between 26 and 31 on the ACT.

An ACT score of 31 means you fall in the 75th percentile for Penn State - University Park's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 31, and three out of four students scored lower than 31 on the ACT.

A 26 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for Penn State - University Park students. Only one out of every four students scored below 26.

More Information on Transferring to Penn State - University Park

Transfer applications are processed on a on a rolling basis as they are received.

Transfer students can enroll in Penn State - University Park during the following terms:

• Fall Term

• Winter Term

• Spring Term

• Winter Term

• Summer Term

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Penn State - University Park Admissions FAQs

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Can I defer my acceptance to Penn State - University Park?

✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to Penn State - University Park.

Does Penn State - University Park accept transfer credits?

✅ Penn State - University Park accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions. Penn State - University Park accepts:

• CLEP subject tests • DSST/DANTES

Does Penn State - University Park accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

✅ Penn State - University Park accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to Penn State - University Park?

✅ Penn State - University Park is not test optional.

What is Penn State - University Park's acceptance rate?

✅ Penn State - University Park's acceptance rate is 55%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at Penn State - University Park?

❌ Penn State - University Park does not offer early decision.

Want To Learn More About Penn State - University Park?

To learn more about Penn State - University Park, choose from the options below:

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