Pennsylvania State University-Main... 2026 Admission 56%, Co

56%

Acceptance Rate

$10,107

Avg.Financial Aid

003329

FAFSA Code

College Search

★ Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Report Card

Selectivity

56% acceptance rate

Class Size

14:1 student-faculty ratio

Value

B-

$34,858 tuition

Grades calculated by The College Monk from IPEDS/NCES data. Methodology: How we grade →

★ Key Facts: Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

Institution: Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
Type: Public

Data compiled by The College Monk from IPEDS/NCES and official university sources. Last verified July 2026. Citable source →

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

Type Control of Institution - Public/Private
Public
Acceptance Rate:
N/A
Level
4 Years
Religious Affiliation Indicates religious affiliation (denomination) for private not-for-profit institutions that are religiously affiliated.
Not applicable
Accreditation Accreditation is the process by which the quality of learning at various educational institutions are evaluated. Read More.
MSCHE
Website
www.psu.edu/
Student Population Number of Students attending College
46,810
On Campus Housing Does the institution provide on-campus housing?
Yes

Penn State is a school split between two identities: the massive, football-obsessed main campus where 45,000 undergraduates party on the streets after games, and the serious academic program that happens quietly in engineering and pre-med. You're getting a Big Ten school with genuine academic chops, but also a reputation for beautiful girls and ugly partying, which is reductive but not entirely unfair.

State College is a college town where Penn State is nearly the entire economy, so the school feels central to everything in a way that UT Austin doesn't. Your freshman year class might have 8,000 people. You will feel anonymous in introductory courses. The honors college helps, and the engineering program has real resources and employer relationships. But you're also at a school where the social scene is dominated by Greek life and athletics in ways that are hard to escape if that's not your scene. The student body is pretty white, pretty conservative, and if you're looking for ideological diversity or urban culture, you're not finding it in State College.

The alumni network is genuinely powerful in certain industries (consulting, oil and gas, manufacturing), and Penn State recruiting is solid. But the school's brand nationally is “solid Big Ten,” not reach. The Sandusky scandal from 2011 still colors the school's image in some circles. What you're really buying here is scale, football, and an alumni network—the academics work, but the experience is industrial and you're a number.

#N/A

Location & Contact

Address

201 Old Main, University Park, Pennsylvania

Contact

Phone: (814) 865-4700

Find Your School

Rankings

It becomes easier for the aspirants to apply to a university and have their doubts regarding the same cleared if the university has a ranking. The ranking of a university is an important parameter by which a prospective student can decide whether they wish to take admission or not. Generally, the ranking of a university is considered a great way to gauge its performance on several factors, which include research excellence, the performance of the students after they complete their education, student experience, and most importantly academic success. The rankings by two well-known publications, US News and Forbes, are considered trustworthy by applicants and academic experts. However, it is to be noted that Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus does not feature in the list of top colleges, according to the latest ranking by these publications.

Admissions

Application Deadline Deadline for application submissions. Please contact the school for more details.
Rolling Admissions
Acceptance Rate Percentage of applicants who are accepted in an Institution.
56%
SAT Range
1160 - 1360
SAT/ACT
Recommended
ACT Range
25 - 30
High School GPA
Required
Application Fee
$65
Accept Common App
None

Admission to the university is fairly easy and the students are recommeded to make the most out of it. The varsity has 3 admission thresholds. The admission process starts by filling up the form and submitting a fee of $65. As per the past trends, the SAT score of a student must lie in the range of 1070-1310 to improve her chances. The average ACT score at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is 26. However, those getting an ACT score less than 23 might also be offered admission. The candidates can apply for the courses online. However, in case they need information or want to feel the vibes, they visit the school's office at 201 Old Main, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802-1503. They can also call them at (814) 865-4700.

Full Admission Info Find College Scholarships Request Info

Annual Cost to Attend

Net Price Cost of attendance minus any grants and scholarships received.
$26,151
Average Annual Cost
$17,416

Additional Costs:

Books And Supplies
$36,652
Other Fees
$1,038
Room And Board The charges for an academic year for Rooming accommodations and meals for a typical student.
$11,570
Budget For Other Expenses
$4,788

Total One Year Cost

$36,652

Tuition fees and the cost of living during the course tenure are the next two things that a student should keep in mind before applying to PSUMC. The annual full-time cost of attendance comes out to be approximately $45,494. For students seeking financial assistance, the university offers a number of options.

Explore Programs Explore Student Loans Explore Tuition and Cost

Academics

Highest Degree Offered The highest degree offered by the Institution.

Doctor's degree

Student:Faculty Ratio

14:1

Full-Time Retention Rate Percent of the that re-enrolled at the institution as either full- or part-time in the current year.

93%

Part-Time Retention Rate Percent of the that re-enrolled at the institution as either full- or part-time in the current year.

68%

Academic Calendar

Semester

Research Funding per Student

$17,576

Faculty Overview

59%

Male Professors

41%

Female Professors

Non-traditional Learning

Evening Degree Programs

Teacher Certification

Distance Education

Study Abroad

Majors

Student Body

Undergraduate Students

40,363

Socio-Economic Diversity Percent of full-time, first-time students receiving an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

15%

Full-time / Part-time

97% / 3%

Students Gender

Male

53%

US National: 44%

Female

47%

US National: 56%

LGBTQIA STUDENT RESOURCE GROUPS

ON CAMPUS WOMEN'S CENTER

Race/Ethnicity

White

66%

Unknown

Black

Hispanic

Two or more races

Non Resident alien

12%

Asian

American Indian/Alaska native

Native Hawaiians/Pacific islander

Geographic Density

High

Unknown Location

34%

Out Of State

56%

In State

10%

Foreign

Economic Diversity

36% percentage of students who recieved an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

Median Household Income

$63,382 per year

Campus Life

Housing

The students can reside on campus and N/A of Freshman Live On-Campus.

On Campus Housing Available

Yes

Freshmen Required to Live on Campus

Freshmen Live on Campus

N/A

Undergrads in College Housing

35%

Averege Housing Cost

$6,370/year

Campus Food

The institution has several dining and meal plan options available to students and the average meal plan cost is around $5,200/year.

Meal Plan Available

Yes

Average Meal Plan Available

$5,200/year

Athletes

Division Sports Nickname

The Nittany Lion

School Colors

blue and white

Varsity Athletics Association

NCAA

Varsity Athletics Conference Primary

Big Ten Conference

Total Male Athletes

474

Total Female Athletes

347

Intramural Sports

Sports Club

Sports Team (Men)

Baseball

Basketball

Cross Country

Fencing

Football

Golf

Gymnastics

Ice Hockey

Lacrosse

Soccer

Swimming and Diving

Tennis

Track and Field

Volleyball

Wrestling

Sports Team (Women)

Cross Country

Fencing

Field Hockey

Golf

Gymnastics

Ice Hockey

Lacrosse

Soccer

Softball

Swimming and Diving

Tennis

Track and Field

Volleyball

Campus Security

Students who want to enjoy the campus and lodging life can benefit from the on-campus housing facility provided by PSUMC. At PSUMC, $11,884 is the normal expense for on-campus housing, which a student will be needed to pay, each year. The number of female and male students at the university are 54% and 46%, respectively.

24-Hour Security Patrol

Campus Emergency Phones

24-Hour Escort Safety rides

Mobile Campus Emergency Alert

After Graduation

Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation

$40,100/year

Median Earnings 10 Years After Graduation

$50,100/year

Median Total Debt After Graduation The median cumulative federal debt of undergraduate borrowers who graduated.

$12,000 - $34,963

Typical Monthly Loan Payment The median monthly loan payment for student borrowers who completed, if it were repaid over 10 years at a 4.53% interest rate.

$125 - $363

Outcomes 8 Years of Attending

Show data for students who

and started their studies

Out of 7,811 students

30% Graduated

10% Still Enrolled

15% Transfer

1% Withdraw

Financial Aid

Students Receiving Gift Aid Percent of undergraduate students awarded federal gift aid.

34%

Average Aid Per Year

$10,107

Students Receiving Federal Grants

13%

Average Aid Per Year

$4,972

Students Receiving State Aid

12%

Average Aid Per Year

$3,451

Students Receiving Institutional Grants

30%

Average Aid Per Year

$7,838

Average Grant & Scholarship by Family Income Aid awarded based on the family income.

Income

Average Amount

< $30K

$14,612

$30K - $48K

$13,561

$48K - $75K

$8,951

$75K - $110K

$3,459

> $110K

$1,158

Total Needs based Scholarships/Grants

$6,054,037

Total Non-Needs based Scholarships/Grants

$34,146,562

In case the students at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus face any financial issues concerning the fees and cost of living, and find the same to be high, they can seek help from the financial aid department of the varsity. It focuses on settling the issues that students face, and candidates can be assisted with scholarships, grants, and student loans. The average federal grant that comes from the university is around $5,062, whereas the financial aid is $5,855. The students at the university are provided with state aid and institutional aid. The state aid stands at $3,343, while the institutional aid is $5,855.

Explore Financial Aid & Scholarships

Frequently Asked Questions About Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

How hard is it to get into Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus?

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of 56%. Strong applicants typically have above-average test scores, a rigorous course load, and compelling extracurricular activities.

How much does Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus cost?

Tuition at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is approximately $34,858 per year before financial aid. Room, board, fees, and personal expenses add to the total cost of attendance. Most students receive scholarships or financial aid that reduces the net price.

How many students attend Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus?

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus enrolls approximately 46,810 students across its programs.

What is the student-faculty ratio at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus?

The student-faculty ratio at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is 14:1, meaning students typically have good access to faculty for mentoring, research, and smaller class experiences.

Is Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus a public or private university?

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is a public institution.

When is the application deadline for Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus?

Application deadlines at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus vary by program. Early Decision and Early Action applicants typically submit in November, while Regular Decision deadlines fall in early January. Always check the official admissions website for the current cycle's dates.

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Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus — 2026 Profile - University Park, Pennsylvania

★ Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Report Card

★ Key Facts: Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

Location & Contact

Rankings

Admissions

Annual Cost to Attend

Academics

Majors

Student Body

Students Gender

Geographic Density

Economic Diversity

Campus Life

After Graduation

Outcomes 8 Years of Attending

Financial Aid

Average Grant & Scholarship by Family Income Aid awarded based on the family income.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

Other Colleges In Pennsylvania

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★ Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Report Card

★ Key Facts: Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

Location & Contact

Rankings

Admissions

Annual Cost to Attend

Academics

Majors

Student Body

Students Gender

Geographic Density

Economic Diversity

Campus Life

After Graduation

Outcomes 8 Years of Attending

Financial Aid

Average Grant & Scholarship by Family Income Aid awarded based on the family income.

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