Penn State University Park acceptance rate
Penn State University Park admitted 55.3% of first-year applicants for fall 2025. Of 106,547 students who applied, 58,952 got in.
- 106,547applied
- 58,952admitted
- 9,148enrolled
- 16%of admitted students enrolled (yield)
Fall 2025 entering class. Source: Penn State University Park, Common Data Set 2025–26, section C1. Checked October 30, 2026.
How this compares with the federal figure
The Department of Education's College Scorecard still shows fall 2024, the latest year federal data covers. The college's own report is a year newer.
| Entering class | Acceptance rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | 55.3% | Common Data Set 2025–26 |
| Fall 2024 | 60.6% | College Scorecard (IPEDS 2024–25) |
Admission got harder by 5.2 percentage points in one year.
Acceptance rate by residency
Penn State University Park reports applicants and admits separately for Pennsylvania residents, out-of-state students and international students.
| Pennsylvania residents | 56.7% | |
|---|---|---|
| Out-of-state | 53.3% | |
| International | 64.8% |
Computed from the residency breakdown in section C1 of the Common Data Set 2025–26.
Early decision and early action
Penn State University Park does not offer early decision. It offers non-binding early action. Apply by November 1 and you'll hear back by December 24. It is not restrictive, so you can apply early to other colleges too.
No application closing date; Penn State reviews on a rolling basis.
SAT and ACT scores
Test scores are optional and considered if you send them. In fall 2025, 29% of enrolled first-years submitted SAT scores and 5% submitted ACT scores, so these ranges describe only those students.
The middle 50% of enrolled students who submitted the SAT scored between 1280 and 1410.
25th, 50th and 75th percentiles of enrolled first-years, fall 2025. Source: Common Data Set 2025–26, section C9. The green bar is the middle 50% and the dark tick is the median.
High school GPA
The average high school GPA of enrolled first-years was 3.67. 46% had a 3.75 or higher.
| 4.0 | 8.0% | |
|---|---|---|
| 3.75-3.99 | 38.0% | |
| 3.50-3.74 | 29.0% | |
| 3.25-3.49 | 16.0% | |
| 3.00-3.24 | 6.0% | |
| Below 3.00 | 2.0% |
Share of enrolled first-years in each GPA range, fall 2025. Source: Common Data Set 2025–26, sections C11–C12.
Check your chances
Enter your GPA and test scores to see whether Penn State is a reach, a target or a likely school for you.
Check my chances at Penn StateWaitlist
2,109 applicants were offered a place on the waitlist, 1,153 accepted it and 46 were admitted from it (4% of those who stayed on the list).
Source: Common Data Set 2025–26, section C2.
Application fee and cost
Application fee: $65 ($75 for international students; can be waived for financial need).
Tuition and fees for 2025–26 are $21,098 for Pennsylvania residents and $43,490 for out-of-state students; the average net price after grants was $33,675 in 2024–25. See Penn State's full cost and net price by family income.
Common questions
What is the Penn State acceptance rate?
55.3% for students entering in fall 2025. The college admitted 58,952 of 106,547 first-year applicants, according to its Common Data Set 2025–26. The federal figure for fall 2024 was 60.6%.
Is Penn State test-optional?
Yes. Penn State University Park does not require the SAT or ACT, but considers scores if you send them. In fall 2025, 29% of enrolled first-years submitted SAT scores and 5% submitted ACT scores.
What GPA do you need for Penn State?
There is no published minimum. The average high school GPA of enrolled first-years in fall 2025 was 3.67, and 46% had a GPA of 3.75 or higher.
Sources
- Penn State University Park, Common Data Set 2025–26 (from the college's institutional research office), checked October 30, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, release of October 15, 2026.
Each figure was copied from the source document and checked by hand. If you spot an error, tell us and we'll correct it. Read how we check the data.