Compare your high school record with the academic credentials of our incoming first-year class and get a look at the University’s enrollment statistics.
Thank you for your interest in Penn State. In choosing a university to attend, it is important to find a good fit – a place that provides a challenging academic environment, allows you to pursue your interests, offers other students that share those interests, and also introduces you to new students and experiences that may expand your horizons. We think Penn State provides that very environment. Explore the important demographic information and admission statistics below to help you determine if it could be the right fit for you.
The ranges in the chart below represent the middle 50 percent of students offered admission for Summer/fall 2017—they are not cutoffs or averages. This chart is for estimating purposes only and in no way represents a promise or guarantee of admission.
Placing in the upper end of both ranges increases the likelihood of being offered your first choice of campus and/or major. Placing in the lower end may require you to be more flexible in making your campus (and perhaps major) choices.
| University Park | All other Campuses | |
|---|---|---|
| High School GPA (4.0 scale) | 3.55-3.97 | 3.05-3.55 |
| University Park | All other Campuses | |
|---|---|---|
| SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing + Math | 1230-1410 | 1050-1270 |
| University Park | All other Campuses | |
|---|---|---|
| Composite ACT | 27-31 | 23-28 |
| First-Year Applicants | Number |
|---|---|
| Total Applications University-wide | 77,027 |
| Total First-Year Students University-wide | 20,644 |
| Total First-Year Students at University Park | 9,210 |
| Total First-Year International Applications | 13,541 |
| Total First-Year International Students University-wide | 6,858 |
The most important piece of our review is your academic record, which represents your individual four years of academic development. Penn State’s holistic assessment of application materials includes the academic courses, grades, and levels of those courses and standardized test scores, plus additional factors that may include an audition, a portfolio review, the geographic and cultural background of the student, the personal statement, and the activities list. We take a hard look at the many roles you serve as a student, sibling, athlete, son or daughter, volunteer, and/or employee. Assembling a class of students with diverse interests and experiences is a task that we take seriously.
Penn State does not have a minimum GPA or standardized test score used for admission. There are no such things as “cut-offs.” We review students in a holistic manner, taking into account a full range of factors.
The following represents key statistics for transfer students at Penn State.
| Transfer Information | Number |
|---|---|
| Total Applications University-wide | 9,377 |
| Total Transfer Students University-wide | 3,276 |
| Total Transfer Students at University Park | 318 |
| Total Transfer Students at Commonwealth Campuses | 1,409 |
| Total Transfer Students at World Campus | 1,549 |
To get a better idea of the demographics and diversity of Penn State, review the key student statistics for the 2016-2017 academic year.
| Enrollment | Number |
|---|---|
| Total Undergraduates University-wide | 70,223 |
| Total Undergraduates at University Park | 40,835 |
| Total Undergraduates at Other Campuses | 29,388 |
| Gender | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Female Undergraduates University-wide | 45% |
| Male Undergraduates University-wide | 55% |
| Residency | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Students University-wide | 71% |
| Pennsylvania Students at University Park | 58% |
| Pennsylvania Students at Commonwealth Campuses | 83% |
| Out-of-state Students University-wide | 30% |
| Out-of-state Students at University Park | 42% |
| Out-of-state Students at Commonwealth Campuses | 17% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| African American | 5.3% |
| Asian American | 5.8% |
| Hispanic/Latino | 6.3% |
| Native American/Alaskan Native | less than 0.1% |
| Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | less than 0.1% |
| White | 65.2% |
| Multiple Races | 3% |
| Unknown | 2.7% |