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The Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA 4 year Public

Acceptance Rate

Fall 2021 admitted students

92.3%

In Fall 2021, a total of 16049 first-time undergrad students enrolled at PSU. Among these students, 5,154 (0%) submitted SAT scores, while 892 (0%), submitted ACT scores.

The data shows that the SAT was more popular among the first-time enrolled students, with a majority of students opting for this test.

Average SAT Score

1250

Students submitting SAT Score

Out of the total 89207 admitted students 5154 students submitted their SAT score when applying.

32%

For the admitted students who submitted SAT scores, 50% of their scores fell within the following range 1140-1360. Specifically, in the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW) section, 50% of admitted students scored between 570 and 670, while 25% scored below 570 and another 25% scored above 670.

In the Math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 570 and 690, while 25% scored below 570 and 25% achieved a score of 690. The data suggests that, applicants with a composite SAT score of 1250 or higher have competitive chances of gaining admission to PSU.

Overall, for the admitted students who submitted SAT scores, their scores placed most of them within the top 36% nationally.

  • Reading and Writing

    570-670
  • Math

    570-690

Average ACT Score

The average ACT score of admitted students for Fall 2021 enrollment season.

28

Students who Submitted ACT Score

Out of the 89207 admitted students 892 students submitted their ACT score when applying.

6%

Similar to the SAT, PSU does not require applicants to submit either SAT or ACT scores. However, during the Fall 2021 admissions season, around 6% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

The middle 50% of admitted students received a composite ACT score between 25 and 31, with 25% scoring above 31 and another 25% scoring below 25.

For the admitted students who submitted ACT scores, their scores placed most of them around the middle, above 51% of test takers nationally.

  • English

    24-32
  • Math

    24-30
  • Composite

    25-31

Application Fees

Fall 2021

$65

Undergraduate

$65

Graduate

Applicants Stats

The following table details the number of students who applied, admitted, and enrolled in PSU during the Fall 2021 enrollment season.

Total Men Women
Applicants 96,686 44,182 52,371
Admitted students 89,207 40,936 48,159
Enrolled students 16,049 8,578 7,443
Acceptance rate 92% 93% 92%
Yield rate 18% 21% 16%
    • Total Applicants

      During the Fall 2021 enrollment season, PSU received a total of 96,686 applications. These applications included 44,182 male applicants and 52,371 female applicants.
    • Admitted Students

      Out of the 96,686 applicants, PSU admitted 89,207 students. Among the admitted students, there were 40,936 males and 48,159 females who received offers of admission.
    • Enrolled Students

      Among the admitted students, 16,049 students chose to enroll at PSU. This means that 16,049 students accepted the admission offers and officially registered to attend the university for the Fall 2021 term. Among the enrolled students, 8,578 were male and 7,443 were female.
    • Acceptance Rate

      The acceptance rate is the percentage of applicants who were offered admission. In this case, PSU had an overall acceptance rate of 92% for the Fall 2021 enrollment season. When we break it down by gender, the acceptance rate for male applicants was 93% while the acceptance rate for female applicants was 92%.
    • Yield Rate

      The yield rate is the percentage of admitted students who actually chose to enroll at the university. PSU had an overall yield rate of 18% for the Fall 2021 term. The yield rate for male admitted students was 21%, and for female admitted students, it was 16%.

Admission and Enrollment Trends

The following table presents the application, admission, and enrollment statistics for PSU over the past 2 years.

Applicants Admitted Students Acceptance Rate Enrolled Students Yield Rate
Year Total Men Women Total Men Women Total Men Women Total Men Women Total Men Women
2020 95,321 45,596 49,725 74,604 35,921 38,683 78% 79% 78% 15,614 8,280 7,334 21% 23% 19%
2021 96,686 44,182 52,371 89,207 40,936 48,159 92% 93% 92% 16,049 8,578 7,443 18% 21% 16%

Admission Requirements

Fall 2021

The Pennsylvania State University uses the following list of admission requirements and recommended documents when evaluating students' applications. All documents listed under the Required sections must be submitted with your application, but those listed under the Recommended section are optional.

PSU is a test-optional college where applicants are not required to submit standardized test (SAT or ACT) scores with their applications. Test scores are considered if submitted, but they are not mandatory. In the 1 enrollment season, 1 of admitted students submitted SAT scores, and 1 submitted ACT scores for admission. Please double-check with the school to verify the current and complete admission requirements.

Required

  • Secondary school GPA
  • Secondary school record
  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)

Recommended

  • Completion of college-preparatory program

Considered

  • Test scores (SAT/ACT)

Neither required nor recommended

  • Secondary school rank
  • Recommendation letters
  • Formal demonstration of competencies
  • Other tests (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)

Accepted Credits

Fall 2021

The following is a list of college preparatory work and life experience that are accepted at The Pennsylvania State University.

  • Credit for life experiences

    Accepted
  • Advanced placement (AP) credits

    Accepted
  • Dual credit (college credit earned while in high school)

    Accepted

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