Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
University Park, Pennsylvania · Public · 42,284 undergraduates · psu.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
55%
of 106,547 applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1280 to 1410
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$45,410Est.Estimate
$70,020 out of state
Your chances and merit aid at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
55% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored, and your GPA is in the middle half of freshmen's.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$70,020
a year in 2027-28, from a $70,020 sticker price (out of state)
What to do with your 1340
Send your score
About 68% of freshmen here didn't send a score. We estimate their typical SAT at about 1190, and yours is above it.
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- Doesn't superscore: it uses the scores from one test date.
- You can type your scores into the application; official reports come later.
- Reviews applications as they arrive, so applying early helps.
Source: How to Apply | Undergraduate Admissions | Penn State · Checked October 16, 2026
Application deadlines
- Nov1Early Action · November 1, 2026Apply early and hear early. Not binding.
- Dec1Other deadline · December 1, 2026
- Jul28Other deadline · July 28, 2027
Who gets in
55%
of applicants were admitted: 58,952 of 106,547 for fall 2025.
Early Action
Not binding. Apply by 11/01, hear by 12/24.
Wait list
2,109 students were offered a spot; 46 were later admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen (fall 2025)
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above. 29% of them sent SAT scores and 5% sent ACT scores.
SAT total 1280 to 1410
Reading and Writing 630 to 710
Math 630 to 720
ACT composite 28 to 32
How enrolled freshmen scored on the SAT
- 1400 to 160029%
- 1200 to 139964%
- 1000 to 11996%
- 800 to 9990%
- 600 to 7990%
- 400 to 5990%
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
High school GPA of enrolled freshmen
Average GPA: 3.67
- 4.08%
- 3.75 to 3.9938%
- 3.50 to 3.7429%
- 3.25 to 3.4916%
- 3.00 to 3.246%
- 2.50 to 2.992%
- Below 2.500%
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$45,410
a year, in state
$70,020
a year, out of state (tuition $46,090)
- Tuition (in state)$21,480
- Fees$660
- Food and housing$16,430
- Books and supplies$1,330
- Transportation and other$5,510
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus published $44,132 in state for 2026-27. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24 (in-state students), by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$22,193
- $30,001 to $48,000$21,267
- $48,001 to $75,000$25,458
- $75,001 to $110,000$31,948
- Over $110,000$39,140
Financial aid
69%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$8,430
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
6%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $6,026 on average
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Not required. Only the FAFSA is needed.
- Aid priority date: February 15 recommended
- Send your aid forms by this date to be first in line for the college's grant money.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
National Merit Pennsylvania State University Scholarship (NMSC college-sponsored)
National Merit
Deadline: Name this college your first choice with NMSC.
Details
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
39 of 40
Earn credit with a score of 3
17 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $2,150Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition for in-state students
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | General credits of studio art |
| 3-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | General credits of studio art |
| African American Studies | 4 | 3 | AFAM 110 |
| Art History | 3 | 3 | Art History 100 |
| Art History | 4 | 3 | Art History 112 |
| Biology | 4 | 4 | Biology 011 and Biology 012 |
| Biology | 5 | 4 | Biology 110 for a grade of 5 |
| Calculus AB | 4 | 4 | Mathematics 140 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 4 | Mathematics 140 |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 8 | Mathematics 140 and Mathematics 141 |
| Chemistry | 4 | 4 | Chemistry 110 and 111 |
| Chemistry | 5 | 8 | Chemistry 110, 111, 112 and 113 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | Chinese 001 and Chinese 002 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | 12 | Chinese 001, 002, and 003 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | General credits of Political Science as a Gen Ed-Social Science at the below 100-level. |
| Computer Science A | 4 | 3 | General credits of Computer Science |
| Computer Science Principles | 4 | 3 | General credits of Computer Science |
| Drawing | 3 | 3 | General credits of studio art |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | ||
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 3 | English 001 |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 3 | General credits of Environmental Resource Management as a Gen Ed-Natural Science and a Gen Ed-Social Science at the 100-level |
| European History | 4 | 3 | General credits of History as a Gen Ed-Humanities and a Gen Ed-International Cultures. |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 12 | French 001, 002 and 003 |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 15 | French 201, in addition to French 001, 002 and 003 |
| French Language and Culture | 5 | 18 | French 202, in addition to French 001, 002, 003, and 201 |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 12 | German 001, 002, and 003 |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 16 | German 201, in addition to German 001, 002, and 003 |
| German Language and Culture | 5 | 19 | German 302W, in addition to German 001, 002, 003, and 201 |
| Human Geography | 3 | 3 | Geography 220 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3 | 4 | Italian 001 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | 8 | Italian 001 Italian 002 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 5 | 12 | Italian 001, 002 and 003 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | General credits of Japanese |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | 12 | Japanese 001, 002, and 003 |
| Latin | 4 | 4 | LATIN 101 |
| Latin | 5 | 8 | LATIN 101 and 102 |
| Macroeconomics | 4 | 3 | Economics 104 |
| Microeconomics | 4 | 3 | Economics 102 |
| Music Theory | 3 | 3 | Music 008 |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 4 | Physics 250 |
| Physics 2 | 4 | 4 | Physics 251 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | 4 | Physics 212 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 4 | Physics 211 |
| Pre-Calculus | 4 | 4 | MATH 41 |
| Psychology | 4 | 3 | Psychology 100 |
| Research | 3 | 3 | GENED 197 |
| Seminar | 3 | 3 | GENED 97N |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 12 | Spanish 001, 002 and 003 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 15 | Spanish 001, 002, 003 and 100 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 3 | Spanish 253 |
| Statistics | 3 | 3 | Statistics 100 |
| Statistics | 4 | 4 | Statistics 200 |
| United States Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | Political Science 001 |
| United States History | 4 | 3 | General credits of History as a Gen Ed-Humanities and Gen Ed-US Cultures |
| World History: Modern | 4 | 3 | General credits of History as a Gen Ed-Humanities and Gen Ed-International Cultures |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
85%
Come back for a second year
93%
Typical earnings
$71,762
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus$101,568
- All colleges$91,119
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 98 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus. The Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus logo is a trademark of the college.