Admission & test scores

Pennsylvania State University SAT scores and acceptance rate

Admitted students scored 1240–1420 on the SAT. Pennsylvania State University admits 61% of applicants — moderately selective. 93% of first-year students return for a second year.

SAT range1240–1420middle half of admits
ACT midpoint—admitted students
Acceptance rate61%moderately selective
First-year retention93%return for year two

Reading the score band These are the scores admitted students had — not a cut-off.

25th percentile
1240
Average
1337
75th percentile
1420

A quarter of admitted students scored below 1240 and a quarter above 1420. Being under the lower figure does not rule you out — it means the rest of the application has to carry more weight — and being above the upper one does not secure a place at a selective university. This intake sits inside a student body of about 42,284.

Universities with similar scores Useful for building a realistic application list.

UniversityAvg SATACTAcceptanceIn-state tuition
New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, New Jersey 1337 30 65% $19,974
Gonzaga University Spokane, Washington 1335 29 82% $55,480
United States Coast Guard Academy New London, Connecticut 1339 27 22% —
University of Dayton Dayton, Ohio 1335 26 65% $49,140
DePauw University Greencastle, Indiana 1340 28 57% $59,070
Lake Forest College Lake Forest, Illinois 1343 29 57% $56,402

Getting in is the first question, not the last

Admission data says nothing about what the degree costs or returns. Before accepting an offer, read the net price for your family's income and the earnings of previous graduates — a place at a selective university financed with heavy borrowing can be a worse outcome than a place at a less selective one that costs little.

Pennsylvania State University admission: common questions

What SAT score do you need for Pennsylvania State University?
The middle half of admitted students scored between 1240 and 1420 on the SAT, with an average of 1337. A score inside that band is competitive; below it you would be relying on the rest of the application.
What ACT score does Pennsylvania State University require?
ACT figures are not published for this institution.
How hard is it to get into Pennsylvania State University?
Pennsylvania State University admits 61% of applicants, which is moderately selective. Of those who enrol, 93% return for a second year.
Does Pennsylvania State University require SAT or ACT scores?
This page reports what admitted students scored, not what the university requires. Many US universities went test-optional and have not returned to a requirement — always check the admissions page before deciding to skip a test.
What it costs Student loan record Debt vs graduate salary Highest SAT universities Highest acceptance rates SAT & ACT preparation

Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard — SAT/ACT scores of admitted students, acceptance rate and first-year retention as most recently published. Scores describe past intakes and are not an entry requirement.