Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
PublicUniversity Park, PA
Penn State was founded in 1855 as the Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania and in 1863 was designated the Commonwealth's sole land-grant institution by an act of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. The university operates multiple campuses today along with an online World Campus, and its professional schools include Penn State Dickinson Law and the College of Medicine. Its student body also runs THON, described by the university as the world's largest student-run philanthropy.
Admissions
Cost & outcomes
From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field.
Where do you stand against Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus's numbers?
Check your chances hereHow Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus weighs your application
From Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus's own Common Data Set, 2024-25, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus weighs in your application
Paying it back
"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.
Majors & earnings
Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.
Campus life
Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.
What matters in your application
From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.
Frequently asked questions
What does Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus look for in applicants?
Per Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates academic GPA as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.
What is Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus's acceptance rate?
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus in University Park, PA admits approximately 61% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.
What SAT score do I need for Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus?
Admitted students at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus typically score between 1240–1420 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile).
What ACT score do I need for Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus?
Admitted students at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus typically score between 27–32 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile).
How much does Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus cost?
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus's total cost of attendance is reported at $39,694 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.
Does Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus require students to live on campus?
No -- Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.
Related reading
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