Pennsylvania State University acceptance rate, scores and deadlines

University Park, PA · public · 42,284 undergraduates

Acceptance rate 55.3% Fall 2025 · ↓5.2 pts
SAT, middle 50% 1280–1410 Enrolled, Fall 2025
Tests, 2026–27 Test-optional From the admissions site

Source: Common Data Set 2025–26 · deadlines from Penn State's admissions site.

Chances at Penn State
1500
unweighted, 4.0 scale —
Your odds · Regular decision Likely
75–96%
  • Your SAT 1500 is above the middle 50% of enrolled students (1280–1410).
  • Only 28.6% of enrolled students sent an SAT, so that middle 50% may run high.
  • Penn State admits 55.3% of applicants overall.

Data: Common Data Set 2025–26 · Test-optional for 2026–27

An estimate, not a guarantee. Save to my list

Acceptance rate

Penn State acceptance rate by year

58,952 of 106,547 applicants admitted for Fall 2025, against 60.6% for Fall 2024.

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 201520172019202120232025 55.3%
Show the numbers
Entering classAppliedAdmittedRateSource
Fall 2025106,54758,95255.3%Common Data Set
Fall 202488,47853,57960.6%IPEDS
Fall 202385,95646,60554.2%IPEDS
Fall 202285,78447,36055.2%IPEDS
Fall 201995,97072,88075.9%IPEDS
Fall 201852,74229,79356.5%IPEDS
Fall 201756,11428,23350.3%IPEDS
Fall 201652,97429,87856.4%IPEDS
Fall 201553,47227,44051.3%IPEDS

2026–27 applications

Penn State deadlines for 2026–27

Apply with Common App or MyPennState. Checked October 24, 2026 on Penn State's admissions site. Dates can change; confirm them there before you submit.

  1. Early action Apply by Decisions By December 24
  2. Priority deadline Apply by Decisions —
Every 2026–27 deadline, in date order

Early rounds

Early decision and early action at Penn State

Penn State offers early action for 2026–27. It does not publish separate early admit rates in its Common Data Set.

Scores and GPA

Test scores and GPA at Penn State

Scores are for enrolled students who sent them, not for everyone admitted.

SAT, middle 50% 1280–1410
40028.6% sent a score1600
ACT, middle 50% 28–32
1Enrolled, Fall 202536
Average high school GPA 3.67
As reported, 96% reported a GPA
High school GPA of enrolled first-years (Fall 2025)
  • 4.08.0%
  • 3.75–3.9938.0%
  • 3.50–3.7429.0%
  • 3.25–3.4916.0%
  • 3.00–3.246.0%
  • 2.50–2.992.0%

What counts

What Penn State weighs

From section C7 of Penn State's Common Data Set 2025–26.

Very important

  • GPA

Important

  • Course rigor

Considered

  • Test scores
  • Talent or ability
  • Where you live
  • State residency

Not considered

  • Class rank
  • Essays
  • Recommendations
  • Interview
  • Activities
  • Character
  • First-generation status
  • Alumni relation
  • Religious affiliation
  • Volunteer work
  • Work experience
  • Demonstrated interest

Waitlist

Penn State waitlist

2,109 students were offered a place on the waitlist for Fall 2025, 1,153 accepted it, and 46 were admitted from it (4.0% of those who stayed on).

Cost

What Penn State costs

From the College Scorecard. For your own estimate, use Penn State's net price calculator.

Tuition, in-state$21,098
Per year
Tuition, out-of-state$43,490
Per year
Average net price$33,675
After grants, aided students
Open Penn State's net price calculator

Compare

Colleges with a similar acceptance rate

Close to Penn State's 55.3%, from the same official data.

FAQ

Questions about Penn State admissions

What is Penn State's acceptance rate?

Penn State admitted 58,952 of 106,547 first-year applicants for Fall 2025, an acceptance rate of 55.3%. That is down from 60.6% for Fall 2024. Source: Common Data Set 2025–26.

Is Penn State test-optional for 2026–27?

Yes. Penn State is test-optional for 2026–27: you can apply with or without SAT or ACT scores.

When are Penn State's application deadlines for 2026–27?

Early action: November 1, 2026; Priority deadline: December 1, 2026. Check Penn State's admissions site before you apply, as dates can change.

What SAT score do you need for Penn State?

There is no cutoff. The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1280–1410 on the SAT (Fall 2025), and 28.6% of them sent a score. A score at or above 1410 is in the top quarter of enrolled students.

Where the numbers come from

Sources

Odds are estimates from public data, shown as a range. An estimate, not a guarantee.

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