Pennsylvania State University - University Park
What Pennsylvania State University - University Park's own numbers say, from its Common Data Set 2025-26.
See your odds at Pennsylvania State University - University Park →All 4 insights at Pennsylvania State University - University Park PRO
ApplicationsPennsylvania State University - University Park
Applications to Pennsylvania State University - University Park are up 102%.
From 52,742 in 2018-19 to 106,547 in 2025-26.
2018-1952,742
2025-26106,547
Source: Pennsylvania State University - University Park's Common Data Set 2025-26
WaitlistPennsylvania State University - University Park
Pennsylvania State University - University Park's waitlist is a long shot: 4.0%.
46 of 1,153 students who stayed on the list got in.
Admitted off the list4.0%
Not admitted96%
Source: Pennsylvania State University - University Park's Common Data Set 2025-26
Who says yesPennsylvania State University - University Park
84% of students admitted to Pennsylvania State University - University Park go elsewhere.
Only 16% of admits enroll, so Pennsylvania State University - University Park admits far more students than it has seats.
Enroll16%
Go elsewhere84%
Source: Pennsylvania State University - University Park's Common Data Set 2025-26
Test scoresPennsylvania State University - University Park
At most 34% of Pennsylvania State University - University Park's first-years sent an SAT or ACT.
29% sent an SAT and 5% an ACT (some sent both), so most enrolled without a score. SAT middle 50% among those who sent: 1280–1410.
Sent an SAT29%
Sent an ACT5%
Source: Pennsylvania State University - University Park's Common Data Set 2025-26
3 more things the data says PRO
- Applications rose 102% from 2018-19 to 2025-26 (52,742 to 106,547), faster than 94% of colleges here.
- Only 29% of enrolled first-years sent an SAT score, so its SAT range describes a minority of the class.
- 1,153 students stayed on the waitlist and 46 were admitted from it (4.0%).
What students say PRO
From students' own posts on Reddit and admissions forums: self-reported, unverified, never used in your odds.
- Most admits who named a round applied in the early window (19 of 22 said Early Action); 3 said Regular Decision.
- Computer science and data science were the most common majors, backed by projects, apps, startups, hackathons or coding clubs and internships.
- Many admits did research or published work, such as papers, conference talks, university research internships and lab programs.
- Most admits held leadership roles, such as club founder or president, team captain, student government or editor.
- Some admits ran businesses or worked, such as resale, hosting or game-development ventures, or retail jobs of around 25 hours a week.
- Students report applying by November 1 matters most, since regular applicants compete for seats left after early action and decisions arrive late November to December.
- Students report about two-thirds of the decision is GPA and course rigor, with essays and activities counting mostly for borderline cases.
- Students report applicants below about a 3.5 GPA are often placed at a branch campus first, and denied applicants can request reconsideration for another major or a summer start.
- Students report Smeal business, nursing and engineering are the hardest programs to enter.
- Students report Penn State gives little or no aid to international and out-of-state students, with costs of about 48,000 to 65,000 a year.
Every number, year by year: Pennsylvania State University - University Park on Open College Data. Something wrong? Suggest a correction.