Pennsylvania State University
School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More
About Pennsylvania State University
School Type: Public
Religious Affiliation: Not applicable
Status: Non-profit
Military Friendly: Yes
Accreditation: regional
Pennsylvania State University is a large public university located on an urban campus in University Park, Pennsylvania. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 73,476, and admissions are selective, with an acceptance rate of 92%. The university offers 178 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 72%, and a student-faculty ratio of 15:1. Tuition and fees for in-state students are $15,400, while tuition and fees for out-of-state students are $25,084.
Admissions Breakdown
Acceptance Rate Insight
92% of students were accepted during the 2021-2022 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 2020 and returned in Fall 2021.
Graduation Rate Insight
72% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2015. 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 scoresConsidered (not required)
High school transcriptRequired
High school rankNot required or recommended
Letter of recommendationNot required or recommended
High school GPARequired
Open admissionNo
Completion of college prep programRecommended
Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL)Required
Transfer Credit Policy
Dual enrollmentYes
Credit for qualified life experience*Yes
Advance placement (AP) creditsYes
*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 Percentile25-31
SAT 25th-75th Percentile1140-1360
Learning Environment
Student Body Stats
89k
Students enrolled
54%
Online student enrollment
15:1
Student to faculty ratio
Ways Students Can Learn
Demographics
White
63%
Unknown
2%
Black
6%
Hispanic
8%
Two or more races
3%
Non-U.S. Citizen
10%
Asian
7%
American Indian/Alaska Native
0%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
Socio-economic diversity
22% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.
Online Programs
Offers Online Programs
Yes
Online Programs
148
Total Online Enrollment
48,386
Student Location Breakout
Bar graph visual depicting student location breakout percentages.54% online, 46% on-campus.
Percent of Programs Online
76% On-campus
24% Online
Types of Online Programs Offered
Certificates24% online
Associate33% online
Bachelor's18% online
Graduate Certificate62% online
Master's28% online
Doctorate1% online
Student Charges
Tuition and Required Fees
| Student Level | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | $59,784 | $59,784 |
| Graduate | $54,672 | $54,672 |
Cost of Undergraduate Attendance
Costs based on full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates for the 2021–2022 academic year.
| Costs to Consider | Price |
|---|---|
| Books and supplies | $1,200 |
| On-campus room and board | $17,758 |
| On-campus other expenses | $2,600 |
| Off-campus (not with family) room and board | Currently unavailable |
| Off-campus (not with family) other expenses | Currently unavailable |
| Off-campus (with family) other expenses | Currently unavailable |
Total Undergraduate Cost
| Total cost by category | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| On-campus | $81,342 | $81,342 |
| Off-campus without family | $60,984 | $60,984 |
| Off-campus with family | $60,984 | $60,984 |
Financial Breakdown
Students Receiving Aid
Federal Grant Aid
30%
State Grant Aid
18%
Institution Grant Aid
42%
Pell Grant
22%
Average Aid Awarded
Financial Outlook
$25k
Average student debtafter graduation
$44k
Average salary 6 years after starting school
Varsity Athletic Teams
NCAA Division I-FCS
of the overall student body is a member of an athletic team.
Participation
- All Track Combined
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Fencing
- Football
- Golf
- Gymnastics
- Ice Hockey
- Lacrosse
- Soccer
- Swimming Diving
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Water Polo
- Wrestling
- Bowling
- Field Hockey
- Softball
Degrees Awarded by Program
Degrees given for the 2021-2022 academic year.
| # | Programs | BA | MA | Doc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science And Related Fields. | |||
| 2 | Architecture And Related Services. | |||
| 3 | Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, And Group Studies. | |||
| 4 | Biological And Biomedical Sciences. | |||
| 5 | Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services. | |||
| 6 | Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs. | |||
| 7 | Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services. | |||
| 8 | Education. | |||
| 9 | Engineering. | |||
| 10 | Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians. | |||
| 11 | English Language And Literature/Letters. | |||
| 12 | Family And Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences. | |||
| 13 | Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics. | |||
| 14 | Health Professions And Related Programs. | |||
| 15 | History. | |||
| 16 | Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting And Related Protective Services. | |||
| 17 | Legal Professions And Studies. | |||
| 18 | Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities. | |||
| 19 | Mathematics And Statistics. | |||
| 20 | Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies. | |||
| 21 | Natural Resources And Conservation. | |||
| 22 | Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, And Kinesiology. | |||
| 23 | Philosophy And Religious Studies. | |||
| 24 | Physical Sciences. | |||
| 25 | Psychology. | |||
| 26 | Public Administration And Social Service Professions. | |||
| 27 | Science Technologies/Technicians. | |||
| 28 | Social Sciences. | |||
| 29 | Visual And Performing Arts. |
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Data collected from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), [2021-2022]. In the absence of IPED data, information was collected directly from the school and is accurate as of the date of collection. Contact the school directly for the most current and complete information.