Penn State University (Main Campus) Admissions

SAT Scores, Acceptance Rate, Financial Aid & More

Penn State Old Main
Penn State Old Main. Cole Camplese / Flickr
Updated July 16, 2017

Penn State University Admissions Overview:

Penn State had an acceptance rate of 51% in 2015, making it a somewhat selective school. Around half of applicants are admitted each year, and generally, those who are successful tend to have strong grades and test scores. To apply, interested students will need to submit an application, along with scores from the SAT or ACT, and high school transcripts.

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Admissions Data (2015):

Penn State Description:

Penn State in University Park is the flagship campus of the 24 campuses that make up the state university system in Pennsylvania. With around 45,000 students, it is also by far the largest. Penn State's 13 specialized colleges and roughly 160 majors provide a wealth of academic opportunities for students with diverse interests. The undergraduate programs in engineering and business are noteworthy, and general strengths in the liberal arts and sciences won the school a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.

The Penn State Nittany Lions compete in the NCAA Division I Big Ten Conference. Penn State made my lists of top Pennsylvania colleges, top engineering programs, top public universities, and top equestrian colleges.

Enrollment (2015):

  • Total Enrollment: 47,307 (40,742 undergraduates)
  • Gender Breakdown: 54% Male / 46% Female
  • 97% Full-time

Costs (2016 - 17):

  • Tuition and Fees: $17,900 (in-state); $32,382 (out-of-state)
  • Books: $1,840
  • Room and Board: $11,230
  • Other Expenses: $4,788
  • Total Cost: $35,758 (in-state); $50,240 (out-of-state)

Penn State University Financial Aid (2014 - 15):

  • Percentage of Students Receiving Aid: 65%
  • Percentage of Students Receiving Types of Aid
    • Grants: 37%
    • Loans: 47%
  • Average Amount of Aid
    • Grants: $9,151
    • Loans: $9,130

Academic Programs:

  • Most Popular Majors: Accounting, Advertising, Criminal Justice, Elementary Education, Finance, Hospitality Administration and Management, Information Sciences, Journalism, Kinesiology and Exercise Science, Marketing, Mechanical Engineering, Nursing, Psychology
  • What major is right for you? Sign up to take the free "My Careers and Majors Quiz" at Cappex.

Graduation and Retention Rates:

  • First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 93%
  • 4-Year Graduation Rate: 64%
  • 6-Year Graduation Rate: 86%

Intercollegiate Athletic Programs:

  • Men's Sports: Football, Gymnastics, Ice Hockey, Swimming, Soccer, Basketball, Tennis, Baseball
  • Women's Sports: Fencing, Volleyball, Field Hockey, Tennis, Soccer, Swimming, Cross Country, Softball

Data Source:

National Center for Educational Statistics

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