CostByCollegeAdmissions
Penn State acceptance rate
The acceptance rate at Pennsylvania State University is 54.2% for fall 2023. Out of 85,956 applicants, 46,605 were admitted and 9,040 enrolled.
The application numbers
| Figure | Fall 2023 |
|---|---|
| Applicants, fall 2023 | 85,956 |
| Admitted, fall 2023 | 46,605 |
| Acceptance rate, fall 2023 | 54.2% |
| Admitted students who enrolled, fall 2023 | 9,040 |
How this rate compares
Against the Pennsylvania pilot school average of 37.7%, the rate at Pennsylvania State University is 16.5 points higher, which means a larger share of applicants were admitted.
Against the national pilot school average of 53.0%, the rate at Pennsylvania State University is 1.2 points higher, which means a larger share of applicants were admitted.
Averages here are simple averages across the pilot schools that publish a rate, 8 schools in Pennsylvania and 235 schools nationwide on this site.
What the acceptance rate does and does not mean
The acceptance rate is the share of applicants who were offered a place. It is worked out by dividing the number of students admitted by the number who applied, for fall 2023.
A low rate means many more people applied than the school could admit. It does not by itself prove that a school is better, that teaching is stronger, or that graduates earn more. Some schools draw very large applicant pools because applying is free or simple, and some excellent schools admit a large share of a smaller, well matched pool.
A high rate does not mean admission is automatic. Schools still set entry requirements, and popular programs inside a school can be far harder to enter than the overall rate suggests. The rate also says nothing about cost. Read it beside the total cost, the average net price, and the outcomes on the cost page for Pennsylvania State University.
Similar schools to compare
- University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Total cost $38,446 for one year.
- Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Total cost $44,756 for one year.
- Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Total cost $81,413 for one year.
- Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Total cost $83,697 for one year.
- Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. Total cost $84,103 for one year.
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at Penn State?
The acceptance rate at Pennsylvania State University is 54.2% for fall 2023. It is the number admitted, 46,605, divided by the number who applied, 85,956.
How many students apply to Penn State each year?
In fall 2023, 85,956 students applied to Pennsylvania State University, 46,605 were admitted, and 9,040 admitted students enrolled.
How selective is Penn State compared with other schools in Pennsylvania?
The average acceptance rate across the pilot schools in Pennsylvania that publish a rate is 37.7%, and the national average across the pilot schools on this site is 53.0%. The rate at Pennsylvania State University is 54.2%.
Does a low acceptance rate mean a school is better?
No. A low rate means far more people applied than the school could admit. It says nothing on its own about teaching quality, cost, or graduate earnings, which is why this site prints the rate beside cost and outcomes figures.
How much does Penn State cost?
The total cost for one year at Pennsylvania State University is $39,892 for in state students. The cost page on this site breaks that total into tuition, fees, books and supplies, room and board, and other expenses.
What is the graduation rate at Penn State?
The graduation rate at Pennsylvania State University is 86%, measuring the share of a starting cohort that finished within one and a half times the normal program length.
Sources: the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, United States Department of Education. Admissions figures are for fall 2023. See the methodology page for full detail.