Back to Colleges Colleges

Penn State

Penn State is a large, public institution located in University Park, pa. Founded in 1855, Penn State offers undergraduate degrees in 551 majors.

tab-icon

Key stats

college-type 4 Year, Public
athletics Division 1
undergraduates 41,417 undergraduates
cost $19,835 undergraduate tuition
background-flourish
Admissions Academics Annual tuition & cost Ways to pay Students Campus life FAQs

Admissions

Will I get into Penn State? Here’s what we know about who has! SAT/ACT scores are considered but not required to apply. Check here for college application deadline info or visit the school’s website.

Acceptance rate 55.2%
SAT score average 1308
ACT score average N/A
Average high school GPA 3.67
Application fee $65
Learn more

Key deadlines

June
30
59 days away FAFSA® deadline

Apply ASAP. A lot of aid is first come, first served!

Apply for the FAFSA®
November
01
183 days away Early Action date

Visit the school's website for more about this option.

Enter to win a $2,000 scholarship*

No essay | Apply in 2 minutes or less
Enter scholarship*

Academics

The degree program or major you pursue is major! Penn State is known for one of its top majors: Information Science/Studies. Their student-faculty ratio is 15:1.

Graduation rate
Retention Rate
15 :1
Student to faculty ratio

Popular degree programs

Computer Science and Information Technology
Social Sciences and Psychology
Business and Management
Engineering and Technology
Health and Medical Professions
Law and Legal Studies
Natural Sciences and Environmental Studies

Popular majors

Information Science/Studies
Psychology, General
Economics
Finance and Financial Management Services
Business/Commerce, General
Mechanical Engineering
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

Annual tuition & cost

In state

Undergraduate tuition $19,835
Additional expenses
Room & board $12,984
Books & supplies $1,840
Other expenses $4,788
Cost of attendance* $39,447
Average financial aid package $14,095
Estimated cost $25,352

Out of state

Undergraduate tuition $38,651
Additional expenses
Room & board $12,984
Books & supplies $1,840
Other expenses $4,788
Cost of attendance* $58,263
Average financial aid package $14,095
Estimated cost $44,168

June 30 FAFSA® deadline

Submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) is the only way to see if you qualify for financial aid.  

Learn more
tuition-background-flourish

*Cost of attendance is the average expenses including tuition, room, board and other estimated living expenses.

Scholarships from Penn State

Scholarships are a great way to cover your education costs—it’s free money you don’t need to pay back. Check out these opportunities and apply!

Penn State University Park National Merit Scholarships No essay $2,000 Apply Now
Bellisario College of Communications Scholarships No essay Varies Apply Now
Renaissance Scholarship No essay $1,500 Apply Now

Student population

Who’s going to be there? Penn State has a total undergraduate enrollment of 41,417, with gender binary students split 53% male and 47% female.

Total enrollment

49,135

Enrollment by gender

Male
Female

Enrollment & ethnicity

White %
55%
African American %
4%
Hispanic American %
8%
Asian %
6%
Native American %
0%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander %
0%
Multiracial %
3%
Unknown %
24%

Student type

Full-time
Living on campus
International

Campus life

Find your people & try new things

At Penn State, student athletes compete in Division 1 sports. Freshmen are required to live on campus.

Campus info

map 201 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802
phone 814-865-4700
address https://www.psu.edu/
announcement

Athletics

NCAA Division levelDivision 1
Varsity sportsYes
Intramural sportsYes
greek-life

Greek life

Female
Male

Frequently asked questions

Get answers to common questions about Penn State to help you figure out where you want to apply.

Where is Penn State?

Penn State is located in University Park, pa.

What is the acceptance rate at Penn State? 

The acceptance rate for Penn State is 55%.

What’s the average GPA for Penn State?

The average high school GPA for Penn State students was 3.67.

How much does it cost for 4 years at Penn State?  

The estimated cost for 4 years at Penn State including tuition, room and board, and books and other fees is $157,788.

Explore other colleges

Temple University
Philadelphia, PA
undergraduates 23,697 undergraduates
school-type 4 Year, Public
See College Details
Muhlenberg College
Allentown, PA
undergraduates 1,933 undergraduates
school-type 4 Year, Private
See College Details
Pennsylvania College of Technology
Williamsport, PA
undergraduates 4,193 undergraduates
school-type 4 Year, Public
See College Details
Millersville University
Millersville, PA
undergraduates 5,697 undergraduates
school-type 4 Year, Public
See College Details
Lincoln University
Lincoln University, PA
undergraduates 1,704 undergraduates
school-type 4 Year, Public
See College Details
Ursinus College
Collegeville, PA
undergraduates 1,505 undergraduates
school-type 4 Year, Private
See College Details
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Slippery Rock, PA
undergraduates 6,707 undergraduates
school-type 4 Year, Public
See College Details
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA
undergraduates 13,933 undergraduates
school-type 4 Year, Private
See College Details
Allegheny College
Meadville, PA
undergraduates 1,324 undergraduates
school-type 4 Year, Private
See College Details
East Stroudsburg University
East Stroudsburg, PA
undergraduates 4,324 undergraduates
school-type 4 Year, Public
See College Details
View all schools

*No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Ends 12/31/2025.
See Official Rules.

SLM Education Services, LLC does not provide, and these materials are not meant to convey, financial, tax, or legal advice. Consult your own financial advisor, tax advisor, or attorney about your specific circumstances.

FAFSA® is a registered service mark of U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid.

Certain content is referenced from Peterson’s Data 2024.

N/A means the information was not available or reported.