Pennsylvania State University

School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More

University Park, PA

$15,025

Avg in-state tuition

$24,413

Avg out-of-state tuition

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About Pennsylvania State University

School Type: Public

Status: Non-profit

Religious Affiliation: N/A While the student experience is largely unaffected at most schools with religious affiliations, some schools place more of an emphasis on religion. Learn how religious affiliations may impact students' experience.

Military Friendly: YesMilitary-friendly schools are Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges, offer the Yellow Ribbon Program, and have a dedicated point of contact to support veterans, military service members, and their families. Explore our college guide for service members and veterans to learn more.

Pennsylvania State University is a large public university located on an urban campus in University Park, Pennsylvania. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 74,446, and admissions are selective, with an acceptance rate of 78%. The university offers 178 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 73%, and a student-faculty ratio of 15:1. Tuition and fees for in-state students are $15,025, while tuition and fees for out-of-state students are $24,413.

Admissions Breakdown

Acceptance Rate Insight

This school has a high acceptance rate.

This school accepts students at a higher rate than other schools. High acceptance schools welcome 51-100% of all applicants.

78% of students were accepted during the 2020-2021 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.

Retention Rate Insight

87% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2019 and returned in Fall 2020.

Graduation Rate Insight

73% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2014. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.

Application Considerations

Test scores Required

High school transcript Required

High school rank Not required or recommended

Letter of recommendation Not required or recommended

High school GPA Required

Open admission No

Completion of college prep program Recommended

Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL) Required

Transfer Credit Policy

Dual enrollment Yes

Credit for qualified life experience* Yes

Advance placement (AP) credits Yes

*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.

SAT & ACT

ACT 25th-75th Percentile 24-29

SAT 25th-75th Percentile 1070-1300

Learning Environment

Student Body Stats

This school has a student body of more than 15,000 students.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

90k

Students enrolled

94%

Online student enrollment

15:1

Student to faculty ratio

Ways Students Can Learn

Online Check Bold
On-campus Check Bold
Hybrid The program is a combination of on-campus and online learning and varies per program. Check Bold
International Online classes are available for students around the world. Check Bold

Demographics

White

64%

Non-U.S. Citizen

10%

Hispanic

8%

Asian

7%

Black

6%

Two or more races

4%

Unknown

2%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%

Female student population

47%

Socio-economic diversity

23% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

Explore Similar Schools

Online Programs

Offers Online Programs

Yes

Online Programs

130

Total Online Enrollment

84,437

Student Location Breakout

Percent of Programs Online

79% On-campus

21% Online

Types of Online Programs Offered

Certificates Check Bold 21% online

Associate Check Bold 26% online

Bachelor's Check Bold 17% online

Graduate Certificate Check Bold 56% online

Master's Check Bold 26% online

Doctorate Check Bold 1% online

Student Charges

Tuition and Required Fees

Student Level In-state Out-of-state
Undergraduate $15,025 $24,413
Graduate $22,464 $38,198

Cost of Undergraduate Attendance

Costs based on full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates for the 2020–2021 academic year.

Costs to Consider Price
Books and supplies $1,840
On-campus room and board $12,318
On-campus other expenses $4,788
Off-campus (not with family) room and board $12,318
Off-campus (not with family) other expenses $4,788
Off-campus (with family) other expenses $4,104

Total Undergraduate Cost

Total cost by category In-state Out-of-state
On-campus $33,971 $43,359
Off-campus without family $33,971 $43,359
Off-campus with family $20,969 $30,357

Financial Breakdown

Students Receiving Aid

Federal Grant Aid

45%

State Grant Aid

19%

Institution Grant Aid

43%

Pell Grant

23%

Average Aid Awarded

Federal Grant Aid $3,637
State Grant Aid $3,392
Institution Grant Aid $6,332
Pell Grant Aid $4,582

Varsity Athletic Teams

NCAA Division I-FBS

of the overall student body is a member of an athletic team.

Participation

Men Women
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Bowling
  • Fencing
  • Field Hockey
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Gymnastics
  • Ice Hockey
  • Lacrosse
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Swimming Diving
  • Tennis
  • Volleyball
  • Water Polo
  • Wrestling
  • All Track Combined

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2020-2021 academic year.

1

Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science And Related Fields

BA

MA

DOC

2

Architecture And Related Services

BA

MA

DOC

3

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, And Group Studies

BA

MA

DOC

4

Biological And Biomedical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

5

Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

6

Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs

BA