Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Acceptance Rate
University Park, Pennsylvania · Public · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 85,956
- Admitted
- 46,605
- Yield
- 19.4%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · School-reported CDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus's acceptance rate has risen from 50.3% in 2014–15 to 54.2% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 50,299 to 85,956 (+71%) over that period.
Its 54.2% rate makes Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus more selective than about 80% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 108 tracked Pennsylvania schools, it is more selective than about 82%.
In 2023–24, women were admitted at a higher rate (56.4% for women vs 51.8% for men, a 4.6-point gap). Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus has been test-optional since 2022–23. Of admitted students, 19.4% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Reported by Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus in its Common Data Set. Source ↗
- Applicants
- 85,957
- Admitted
- 46,605
- Acceptance
- 54.2%
- Yield
- —
- Early Action
- 70.3%
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 50,299 | 25,295 | 50.3% | 8,183 |
| 2015–16 | 53,472 | 27,440 | 51.3% | 7,626 |
| 2016–17 | 52,974 | 29,878 | 56.4% | 8,499 |
| 2017–18 | 56,114 | 28,233 | 50.3% | 7,863 |
| 2018–19 | 52,742 | 29,793 | 56.5% | 8,075 |
| 2019–20 | 95,970 | 72,880 | 75.9% | 15,989 |
| 2022–23 | 85,784 | 47,360 | 55.2% | 9,216 |
| 2023–24 | 85,956 | 46,605 | 54.2% | 9,040 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 45,333 | 25,578 | 56.4% |
| Men | 39,869 | 20,636 | 51.8% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 610–690 | 33% |
| SAT Math | 610–710 | |
| ACT Composite | 27–32 | 6% |
How Pennsylvania State University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus's acceptance rate?
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus's acceptance rate is 54.2% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (46,605 admitted of 85,956 applicants).
Is Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus test optional?
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus?
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus received 85,956 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 46,605.
What SAT score do you need for Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus?
Admitted students at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus typically scored 610–690 on SAT Reading/Writing and 610–710 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus getting harder to get into?
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 50.3% in 2014–15 to 54.2% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: https://www.psu.edu/.