Dates & Deadlines for First-Year Students

Penn State receives over 100,000 first-year student applications, so what can you do to ensure your application is as competitive as possible?

Application Deadline and Decision Information

Applicants are evaluated on a modified rolling admissions schedule. Additionally, some academic programs have limited enrollment and specific application dates. The deadline for first-year, domestic students to apply Early Action is November 1. For those students choosing not to apply Early Action and for all domestic students, we recommend submission of a complete application, including all required materials, by December 1.

To meet the application deadlines outlined below, you have to submit a complete application by the provided date. The important application dates are:

Fall and Summer Starting Semesters

First-Year Applicant Dates for Fall and Summer starting semesters.
First-Year applications may be submitted between August 1 and July 28, but options may become limited later in the admissions cycle.
View detailed dates and deadlines information.
*With a few program exceptions
Decision Plan	Application Available	Complete Application	Admission Notification	Deadline for Student Notification of Enrollment
Early Action	August 1	by November 1*	by December 24	May 1
Rolling Admission	August 1	by December 1	by January 31	May 1
Rolling Admission	August 1	after December 1	Rolling	May 1

Spring Starting Semester

First-Year Applicant Dates for Spring starting semester.
*With the exception of a few programs.
Decision Plan	Application Available	Application Submission Date	Admission Notification by:	Deadline for Student Notification of Enrollment
Rolling Admission	June 1	December 1	Mid-December	Refer to offer notification

Those students who submit a complete application, including a Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR), by November 1 will have the best chance of admission to their first-choice campus and/or major and will receive an admission decision no later than December 24. Applying after November 1, while acceptable, may limit your campus and major choices.

The following programs require the receipt of a complete application by specific dates:

Application Deadlines for Specific Programs.
*Accelerated Premedical-Medical does not participate in Early Action)
Program Name	Application Deadline
Accelerated Premedical-Medical*	October 10
Nursing	December 1 for Penn State University Park Applicants Penn State Altoona, Behrend (Erie), Fayette, Mont Alto, Schuylkill and Scranton are not held to this deadline

Penn State Campuses

Students are most competitive for their intended campus and/or major if they follow the schedule outlined above. But many of our campuses, with the exception of University Park, accept applications throughout the spring and summer and notify applicants of their admission on a rolling basis. Contact your campus of interest to inquire about applying.

Applying to the Schreyer Honors College

The Schreyer Honors College requires the completion of an application in addition to the Penn State Undergraduate Admissions application.

The important application and notification dates for applications to the Schreyer Honors College are:

Schreyer Honors College Dates
Term	Optional Interview Deadline	Interviews Close for Priority Applicants	Final Application Deadline	Decisions Announced
Fall Semester and Summer Session Application Available: Aug 1	November 1	January 12	December 4	by March 1

Applicants who apply by November 1 have the opportunity to participate in an optional interview as part of the selection process. Applications received after November 1 will still be evaluated for the Schreyer Honors College, but those students will not have the opportunity to interview. All interviews will be conducted through January 15.

For more information on the selection process, please visit the Schreyer Honors College website.

Financial Aid Information

The Office of Student Aid at Penn State is responsible for making all financial aid awards.

Penn State recommends that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) be submitted to receive maximum consideration for all types of student aid. The FAFSA is available online at studentaid.gov. The 2024-25 FAFSA will be available sometime in December 2023, and we encourage all students new to Penn State to log into this application on or after January 1, 2024, and complete and submit the application by February 15, 2024, to ensure maximum consideration for all types of aid.

Please visit the Office of Student Aid website for more information about the student aid process and for specific deadlines.

Students enrolling in the summer session will have to submit the prior year’s FAFSA in order to be considered for financial aid for that session. This FAFSA is due June 30.