Penn State, Pitt and Temple admissions all reward applying early, but in different ways. Penn State and Temple have Nov. 1 Early Action deadlines, now days away. Pitt has no deadline at all, but only applications completed by Dec. 1 get automatic consideration for its academic scholarships. All three are test-optional for fall 2027.
The dates below are from each university's undergraduate admissions pages.
Fall 2027 deadlines
| Penn State | Pitt (Pittsburgh campus) | Temple | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Action | Nov. 1 (decision by Dec. 24) | -- | Nov. 1 (decision by Jan. 10) |
| Other key date | Recommended deadline Dec. 1 | Dec. 1 for academic scholarship consideration | Regular Decision Feb. 1 |
| Admission type | Early Action plus a recommended deadline | Rolling, no set deadline | Early Action and Regular Decision |
| Tests | Optional | Optional through fall 2028 | Optional |
| Application fee | $65 | -- | -- |
Sources: Penn State Undergraduate Admissions; University of Pittsburgh Office of Admissions; Temple University Undergraduate Admissions.
Penn State: Early Action and campus choice
Apply by Nov. 1 for an Early Action decision by Dec. 24; Penn State recommends all applications by Dec. 1. You can apply through MyPennState or the Common App, with no preference between them. Penn State's minimum course requirements include four units of English, three of math (algebra I, algebra II and geometry), three of science and two units of one world language.
You apply to University Park or one of the Commonwealth Campuses. Penn State says more than 78% of Commonwealth Campus students are Pennsylvania residents.
Fall 2025 enrollment (Penn State's latest report):
- 145,654 undergraduate applications, a record.
- 15,239 first-year students across all campuses, more than 9,300 from Pennsylvania.
- 9,148 in University Park's incoming class, its third-largest.
Pitt: no deadline, but Dec. 1 matters
Pitt reviews applications and makes decisions "throughout the year." For academic scholarships, though, your application and all materials must be in by Dec. 1, and a personal statement is required for scholarship consideration. You can use the Pitt Application or the Common App, and Pitt requires the Self-Reported Transcript and Academic Record (STARS). If you submit scores, Pitt uses your highest ACT composite and highest SAT superscore.
Considering a regional campus? Pitt's Regional Campus Tuition Pledge covers tuition for Pennsylvania residents with household income of $75,000 or less at Bradford, Greensburg and Johnstown. See Pennsylvania free tuition programs.
Temple: Early Action by Nov. 1
Applying by Nov. 1 gets you a nonbinding decision by Jan. 10. Temple says Early Action applicants are generally admitted at a higher rate. Regular Decision is Feb. 1, the same as Temple's FAFSA priority date. Philadelphia residents with family income of $65,000 or less can qualify for the Temple Promise starting fall 2027.
What this means for you
- Nov. 1: Penn State and Temple Early Action.
- Dec. 1: Pitt scholarship consideration and Penn State's recommended deadline.
- File the FAFSA early: Temple's priority date is Feb. 1, and the PA State Grant deadline is May 1.
- Compare real profiles: see Penn accepted vs. rejected applicants for Pennsylvania's most selective school.
Sources
- How to Apply — Penn State Undergraduate Admissions
- Penn State remains a top higher education destination in 2025 (Oct. 29, 2025) — Penn State News
- First-Year Student Admissions — University of Pittsburgh
- First-Year Students — Temple University Undergraduate Admissions
- Pitt Regional Campus Tuition Pledge — University of Pittsburgh