Is Penn State test optional?

We haven't confirmed Penn State's test policy for 2026–27. Check their admissions site; many colleges have changed their policy since 2020.

What is Penn State's acceptance rate?

61% of applicants were admitted in 2025–26, according to the college's Common Data Set or, where that's missing, IPEDS, the federal college survey. In fall 2024, 53,579 of 88,478 applicants were admitted. Applications rose 65%, from 53,472 in 2015 to 88,478 in 2024, and Penn State's admit rate went from 51% to 61%.

What ACT score do you need for Penn State?

5% of first-year students sent an ACT, and they scored 28–32, with a median of 30. On the official ACT–SAT concordance, their SAT range of 1280–1410 works out to about 27–31.

What GPA do you need for Penn State?

There's no published cutoff. First-year students averaged a 3.67 high school GPA, and 37% of those who reported a class rank were in their top 10%, per the Common Data Set 2025–26. Colleges compute GPA differently, so compare it loosely.

How many students get off the waitlist at Penn State?

46 of the 1,153 students who stayed on the waitlist were admitted, or 4.0%, per the Common Data Set 2025–26.

All colleges

What SAT score do you need for Penn State? (Middle 50%: 1280–1410)

First-year students at Penn State who sent an SAT scored 1280–1410, with a median of 1340 (Common Data Set 2025–26). Penn State admits 61% of applicants.

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus · University Park, PA

Where your score lands at Penn State

First-year students who sent an SAT: 1280–1410, median 1340

Your score

Middle 50% of admitted students Median

Enter your SAT or ACT to see which tier Penn State is for you and whether to send your score.

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Penn State by the numbers

Admit rate: 61%
Middle 50% SAT: 1280–1410
Median SAT: 1340
About on the ACT: 27–31
Sent an SAT: 29%

Test policy not confirmed for 2026–27 · SAT range from the Common Data Set, 2025–26; admit rate from it or IPEDS

Penn State admit rate over 10 years

Applications rose 65%, from 53,472 in 2015 to 88,478 in 2024, and Penn State's admit rate went from 51% to 61%.

Show the numbers

Fall	Applied	Admitted	Admit rate
2024	88,478	53,579	61%
2023	85,956	46,605	54%
2022	85,784	47,360	55%
2019	95,970	72,880	76%
2018	52,742	29,793	56%
2017	56,114	28,233	50%
2016	52,974	29,878	56%
2015	53,472	27,440	51%

In fall 2024, 9,169 of the 53,579 admitted students enrolled. Applicants and admits from IPEDS, the federal college survey, by fall of entry.

What each SAT score means at Penn State

Which tier your score puts them in, and whether it's worth sending.

Your SATTierSend it?*

Under 1230Far reachHold
1230–1270ReachHold
1280–1330TargetHold
1340–1400TargetSend
1410 and upLikelySend

11001200130014001500

Tiers here use only your SAT and their admit rate. Essays, activities and recommendations still decide most admissions at selective colleges. *Send it? assumes they're test optional; we haven't confirmed their policy.

Penn State SAT sections, ACT, GPA and class rank

Scores of enrolled first-year students who sent one, by percentile.

Test	25th	Median	75th
SAT Math	630	670	720
SAT Reading and Writing	630	670	710
SAT total	1280	1340	1410
ACT composite	28	30	32

Of enrolled first-year students, 29% sent an SAT and 5% sent an ACT. Common Data Set 2025–26.

Average high school GPA: 3.67; 96% of new students reported one
Top 10% of their class: 37%; of new students who reported a rank

Penn State waitlist

Waitlist

2,109 applicants were offered a spot, 1,153 took it, and 46 were admitted from it.

4.0%of students who stayed on the waitlist got in

Common Data Set 2025–26.

Penn State cost and outcomes

What students pay after grants, how many finish, and what they earn.

Average net price: $32,875; per year, after grants
Graduate in 6 years: 86%
Median earnings: $63,435; 10 years after starting
Undergraduates: 44,564

College Scorecard, 2022–23, from the US Department of Education. Net price averages federal-aid students across family incomes.

Colleges like Penn State

Similar SAT ranges and admit rates.

Sources

Penn State Common Data Set 2025–26
SAT and ACT ranges, early decision, waitlist, GPA and class rank, as the college reported them.
College Navigator (IPEDS)
Applications, admissions and enrollment by year, from the federal college survey.
College Scorecard
Net price, graduation rate and earnings, from the US Department of Education.
Penn State website
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

Updated Nov 9, 2026. Spot a number that's off? Email support@tryashore.com and we'll check it against the source.

Questions

Still have a question? support@tryashore.com

There's no cutoff. The middle 50% of first-year students who sent an SAT scored 1280–1410, and the median was 1340. At 1340 or higher you're above half of them. Penn State admits 61% of applicants.

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SAT Math · 1 of 5

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A jacket's price is increased by 20% and then the new price is decreased by 20%. The final price is what percent of the original price?

A $96\%$
B $100\%$
C $104\%$
D $80\%$