Estimating your undergraduate admissions eligibility

The admissions decision for first-year students is based on a combination of factors. The 9th-11th grade high school grade-point average (GPA) accounts for approximately two-thirds of Penn State's admission decision. Penn State looks at 12th grade course schedules, but does not consider 12th grade GPA/grades in the admissions decision.

The remaining one-third of our admissions decision is based on a combination of other factors which includes standardized test scores, class rank, honors and AP courses along with overall curriculum, intended major, personal statement, and activities lists.

Regarding the SAT or ACT, the math score is more influential on the admission decision for students who select a math-intensive major (such as business, engineering, and science majors). The reading section of the SAT or ACT and has more influence on the decision for a student choosing a non-intensive math program (such as liberal arts and communications majors).

For students who are applying to Penn State with the academic choice of Division of Undergraduate Studies "DUS" (our undecided option), the math and reading sections are equally important in the review process. Students applying for admission into business, earth and mineral sciences, engineering, information sciences and technology, and science need to have completed an advanced level of math by the end of their senior year in high school. This includes pre-calculus, calculus, and trigonometry.

The ranges in the chart below represent the middle 50 percentile of first-year students offered admission for fall 2018. They are not minimum requirements; they are averages. Placing in the upper end of both ranges increases the likelihood of being offered your first choice of campus and/or major, but we admit students who fall both above and below these averages. Placing in the lower end of both ranges may require you to be more flexible in making your campus (and perhaps major) choices. This chart is intended to give you a general idea of your admissibility to Penn State. The chart does NOT represent a promise or guarantee of admission.

Location Combined SAT Middle 50% Range Composite ACT Middle 50% Range High School GPA Middle 50% Range
University Park 1250-1430 28-32 3.55-3.97
All other campuses 1070-1290 23-28 3.07-3.60

*High school GPA range is based on a 4.0 scale.