Freshman Admission Information

Penn State strongly encourages you to file a complete application for admission by November 30 of your senior year.

Some programs and campuses will reach capacity early in the admission year, so it is always to your benefit to apply early.

The Penn State application form is available on the World Wide Web or in paper form. To request a paper application, contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office or request it online.

Your application to Penn State allows you to be evaluated for any of our campuses and programs. Entrance difficulty is based partly on demand. The University Park campus is the most competitive location for admission to all programs.

How Penn State Evaluates Applications

Admission decisions for first-year students are made on the basis of several combined factors: final grades in all subject areas for years nine, ten, and eleven of high school; weighted average or class rank for students who have taken AP/Honors courses; required Carnegie (high school) units; and standardized test scores (SAT/SAT I or ACT).

Approximately two-thirds of our evaluation is based on high school grades, one-third on standardized test scores. The evaluation may also include a review of the personal statement and extracurricular activities that you can submit with the application.