Penn State University Admission Requirements
Penn State University is a selective school where the chances of student admission vary based on profile strength. Students from all over the world aspire to enroll at this reputable college, but with a 54% acceptance rate, just over half the applicants get accepted. Among the most critical factors that impact the acceptance decision are:
- Past Academic Performance
- Performance in standardized scores
- Completion of the essay and other application requirements
Before digging deeper into the admission requirements for Penn State University, Let’s obtain some basic information about the school:
About Penn State University
Established in1855, Pennsylvania State University is a public institution that is home to a total of 24 campuses spread across the state. What started as a school called Farmers’ High School of Pennsylvania is now a prestigious public research university. With 7,958 acres in size, the university received 73,861 applications for the 2020-2021 admissions cycle, from which 40,031 were accepted, representing an acceptance rate of 54.2%.
Penn State University offers numerous opportunities to get engaged, including more than 1000 organizations and clubs. It has five housing areas within the campus and freshmen must live on-campus. A bustling small town known as State College is situated across the street from campus that contains many restaurants, coffee shops, and other shops that are usually packed with students. Students also benefit from hiking, skiing, and snowboarding opportunities near the school.
Penn State University offers 275 majors spread across 12 academic colleges within the University Park campus and 6 others in other parts of Pennsylvania State.
Penn State University GPA Requirements
Those applying to Penn State University need very good grades in high school to get in. The average GPA for admitted students is 3.58. If your GPA is higher than the average, your chances of getting admitted should be pretty high. If your GPA is lower than the average, you’ll need to score high on either SAT or ACT to compensate.
Penn State University SAT Requirements
To successfully make it to Penn State University, you’ll need to be among the top 47 percent of SAT test takers. The school usually takes SAT composite scores down to 1070. Yet, some students with a SAT score of 950 may also be accepted if other aspects of their profile are exceptional. Since 74% of the applicants submit a SAT score, it’s important to get a competitive score. With SAT tutoring, this won’t be difficult to achieve.
Penn State University ACT Requirements
Based on past admission data, it’s clear that Penn State University consistently accepts students with an ACT score of 23 and above. In some instances, it may accept a minimum ACT composite score of as low as 20. To boost your chances of admission, seek ACT Tutoring and aim for a 30 or above ACT score.
How to Apply to Penn State University
You’ll need to apply to the university through Common Application, Penn State application, or Coalition application. When applying, you’ll need to possess a self-reported academic record, and standardized test scores (not required but strongly recommended to get admission).
While the university has rolling admissions, if you apply by November 1, you can get an early decision, and applying by December 1 means you can expect to hear back by January 31.
Wrapping Up
If you’re planning to secure a place at Penn State University for their next intake, we strongly advise you to start preparing ahead of time. To achieve an exceptional SAT or ACT score, seek high quality tutoring from Club Z! Tutoring Services.
