The Pennsylvania State University (University Park)
Pennsylvania's land-grant flagship in a valley college town, with 14 colleges, Big Ten sport and THON.
- Acceptance rate
- 55%
- First-year class entering fall 2025 (University Park Common Data Set 2025-26)
- Students
- 50,570
- 42,822 undergraduates
- International
- 16%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 15.4:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- $44,574
- From · 2026-27
About Penn State
Penn State was chartered in 1855 as the Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania and became the state's land-grant university; its flagship campus, University Park, sits in the Nittany Valley in central Pennsylvania. University Park enrolled 50,570 students in fall 2025, including 42,822 undergraduates, and the wider Penn State system (with Commonwealth Campuses and World Campus) has more than 86,000 students. The university reports 1.44 billion dollars in annual research expenditures and describes itself as one of only three land-, space-, sun- and sea-grant universities in the US.
Undergraduate study at University Park is organised into colleges including Agricultural Sciences, Arts and Architecture, the Smeal College of Business, Communications, Earth and Mineral Sciences, Education, Engineering, Health and Human Development, Information Sciences and Technology, Liberal Arts, Nursing and the Eberly College of Science, plus the Schreyer Honors College. Penn State says 15 of its undergraduate programs earned top-25 ratings in the 2027 US News edition, including petroleum engineering and supply chain management.
University Park suits students who want a very large public university with a strong sense of identity: a huge alumni network (more than 819,000), Big Ten athletics, and a student culture built around clubs and philanthropy. The 2+2 Plan also lets students start at one of Penn State's other campuses and finish at University Park.
Virtue, Liberty, and Independence
University motto
Why students choose Penn State
Smeal's supply chain management program is ranked No. 7 and petroleum engineering No. 4 among US undergraduate programs in the 2027 US News edition, per Penn State.
THON, the student-run dance marathon for pediatric cancer that began in 1973, is widely described as the world's largest student-run philanthropy.
The 2+2 Plan lets students begin at any of Penn State's Commonwealth Campuses and move to University Park to finish their degree.
More than 1,200 student clubs and organizations and 31 NCAA Division I varsity programs in the Big Ten give students a lot to plug into.
Admissions
First-year class entering fall 2025 (University Park Common Data Set 2025-26)
About 1 in 2 applicants is admitted
58,952 admitted from 106,547 applicants
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
Most applications are reviewed for admissibility to a campus rather than to a specific major; University Park is the most competitive campus, and programs such as Nursing and Architecture are more selective. Penn State says options become more competitive after the November 1 early action date, particularly for University Park.
Typical entry requirements
| US high school units | 4 English, 3 mathematics, 3 science, 3 social studies, 2 world language (STEM, IST, business and engineering programs have additional math expectations; statistics does not count toward math for Category 1 programs) |
|---|---|
| International applicants | Credential-specific guidance on the international credentials page; must certify funds for the first calendar year of study |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 80 TOEFL iBT 80 for tests taken before January 21, 2026, or 4.5 on the new band scale for later tests; IELTS Academic 6.5; Duolingo 120. Scores must be under two years old. Exemptions include four years in a US high school, SAT EBRW 570+, ACT English 24+, IB English 5+ or GCSE/GCE English A-C. |
Deadlines
- Early Action Non-binding Next deadline · In 26 daysNovember 1, 2026
Non-binding; the CDS lists early action notification by December 24. Applications after November 1 are reviewed on a rolling basis.
- Rolling admission (final fall deadline) Non-binding In ~10 monthsJuly 28, 2027
Applications close July 28 for fall entry, but University Park options become more competitive after November 1.
The official dates page gives month and day (November 1 early action; applications close July 28 for fall). Years shown assume the fall 2027 cycle. Schreyer Honors College and the Millennium Scholars Program have separate deadlines.
How to apply
Apply via the MyPennState application or the Common App ($65 domestic, $75 international), choosing a campus and major. Complete the Self-reported Transcript and Academic Record System (STARS). The personal statement and activities list are optional; letters of recommendation are not required or used. Some arts programs require an audition or portfolio.
What admissions looks for
- The academic record is the most important piece: courses, grades and course levels in grades 9-11, representing four years of academic development.
- Standardized test scores only if you choose to submit them; there is no minimum score or GPA.
- An optional personal statement and activities list that show your roles as a student, volunteer, athlete, employee or family member.
- Auditions or portfolios for programs that require them.
Tips for applying to Penn State
- 1 Apply by November 1 if University Park is your goal; Penn State says campus options narrow after that date.
- 2 Fill in the STARS self-reported academic record carefully, because it is how your grades are reviewed.
- 3 Because recommendations are not used, spend your effort on the optional personal statement and activities list if they add context your transcript cannot.
- 4 If you are not admitted to University Park, consider the 2+2 Plan offer at another Penn State campus as a route to finish at University Park.
- 5 Schreyer Honors College has its own application and earlier deadline; check it before planning your timeline.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in USD
Admissions-based University scholarships include the Penn State Academic Award (Pennsylvania residents at University Park) and the Provost Academic Award (non-residents at University Park); Penn State says typical awards range from $1,500 to $5,000 a year and about one in four undergraduates receives a University scholarship. International students must certify funds for their first calendar year.
- About 1 in 4
- Undergraduates receiving a University scholarship
- $1,500-$5,000 per year (average usually no more than $2,500)
- Typical admissions-based award
- Books $1,290; transportation $2,244; miscellaneous $3,112
- Other 2026-27 COA items (CDS)
- $640
- Required fees 2026-27 (CDS)
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
Supply Chain Management (Smeal)
Ranked No. 7 nationally among undergraduate programs in the 2027 US News edition, per Penn State.
Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Ranked No. 4 in the 2027 US News undergraduate program rankings, per Penn State; housed in Earth and Mineral Sciences.
Engineering
Engineering is a Category 1 program with extra math expectations, and upper-division engineering sits in University Park's top tuition tier.
Premedical-Medical BS/MD
An accelerated program with Penn State College of Medicine and the only Penn State program that requires SAT or ACT scores.
Schreyer Honors College
Penn State's honors college, with its own application process for high-achieving students across all majors.
Research
- Penn State reports 1.44 billion dollars in annual research expenditures.
- It is one of only three US universities holding land-, space-, sun- and sea-grant designations.
- The university operates 24 innovation spaces across Pennsylvania.
Schools & faculties
- College of Agricultural Sciences
- College of Arts and Architecture
- Smeal College of Business
- Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications
- College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
- College of Education
- College of Engineering
- College of Health and Human Development
- College of Information Sciences and Technology
- College of the Liberal Arts
- Eberly College of Science
- Schreyer Honors College
Student life
University Park is a classic big-campus college town experience. Life revolves around a huge menu of more than 1,200 clubs and organizations, Big Ten football and other Nittany Lions sports, and THON, the student-run dance marathon that raises money for pediatric cancer and that is widely described as the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. On-campus housing is part of the standard first-year budget, and downtown State College sits right at the campus edge. With students from all 50 states and more than 150 countries, the community is large but has a strong shared identity.
- THON, the student-run dance marathon for pediatric cancer, widely described as the world's largest student-run philanthropy.
- More than 1,200 student clubs and organizations.
- 31 NCAA Division I varsity programs competing in the Big Ten Conference.
- The Nittany Lion Shrine, a campus landmark tied to the university's athletic identity.
Housing. On-campus food and housing are listed at $15,968 for 2026-27 in the University Park Common Data Set; the housing deposit is due May 1.
Location
University Park adjoins the borough of State College in the Nittany Valley of central Pennsylvania, surrounded by ridges and farmland. The town exists largely around the university, so bars, restaurants and apartments are within walking distance of campus. It is a few hours by car or bus from Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Washington DC and New York, and winters are cold and snowy.
Nearest airport: State College Regional Airport (SCE)
Notable alumni
- GK Gene KellyActor, dancer and director of Singin' in the Rain
- PB Paul BergNobel Prize in Chemistry 1980
- GB Guion BlufordNASA astronaut, first African American in space
- TR Tom RidgeFirst US Secretary of Homeland Security and Governor of Pennsylvania
- KF Kenneth FrazierFormer chairman and CEO of Merck & Co.
- MP Mark ParkerExecutive chairman and former CEO of Nike
- TB Ty BurrellActor on Modern Family
- DB Deborah BirxPhysician; White House Coronavirus Task Force coordinator 2020-2021
Frequently asked questions
What is Penn State University Park's acceptance rate?
For fall 2025, University Park admitted 58,952 of 106,547 first-year applicants, about 55%. University Park is the most competitive Penn State campus.
Is Penn State test-optional?
Yes. SAT and ACT scores are optional and considered if submitted; only the Premedical-Medical BS/MD program requires them. Enrolled students who submitted scored 1280-1410 on the SAT (middle 50%).
When is the Penn State early action deadline?
November 1. It is non-binding, and Penn State says admission options become more competitive after that date, especially at University Park.
Does Penn State require letters of recommendation or an essay?
No recommendations are required or used. The personal statement is optional, and the Common App essay can serve as it.
How much is Penn State tuition for out-of-state students?
For 2026-27, non-Pennsylvania residents at University Park pay $44,574 in the first two years, rising to $46,812-$52,656 for upper-division programs.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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