University in United States
University Park, PA, United States
University profile
The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) is Pennsylvania's land-grant university and its largest public university, chartered in 1855 as an agricultural college. Its main campus, University Park, sits in Centre County; the university also operates undergraduate and graduate campuses across the Commonwealth and the online World Campus, with nearly 90,000 students and about 20,000 faculty and staff across all locations. Penn State is one of only three U.S. institutions designated Land Grant, Sea Grant, Sun Grant and Space Grant.
Teaching is organised in fifteen academic colleges and several additional schools: Agricultural Sciences, Arts and Architecture, the Smeal College of Business, the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, Earth and Mineral Sciences, Education, Engineering, Health and Human Development, Information Sciences and Technology, the College of the Liberal Arts, the Eberly College of Science and the Nese College of Nursing, together with the College of Medicine, Penn State Dickinson Law (Carlisle and University Park), the School of International Affairs, the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School, the Schreyer Honors College and the Division of Undergraduate Studies for students exploring majors.
Undergraduates choose from more than 275 majors, 200 minors, 100 undergraduate certificates and 20 two-year associate degrees; the Fox Graduate School offers more than 300 graduate degree programs. Many students use the 2+2 Plan to begin at one campus and finish at another. Research is a major strength, with US$1.44 billion in annual research expenditures and interdisciplinary institutes spanning life sciences, materials, energy and environment, computational and data sciences, cancer and social science.
Student life includes more than 1,200 student organisations, residence halls and apartments on most campuses with Living Learning Communities, the Berkey Creamery, and THON, the 46-hour dance marathon billed as the world's largest student-run philanthropy. Penn State fields 31 varsity programs in the Big Ten Conference at NCAA Division I level for most sports, plus 75+ NCAA Division III teams across its undergraduate campuses. Penn State Global supports international students with immigration and I-20 guidance.
International students: more than 8,800 international students from over 150 countries study at Penn State. Any student who requires a visa is classed as an international student and applies through MyPennState or the Common App, with proof of English proficiency required for applicants whose native language is not English.
Scholarships are awarded on merit and/or financial need through the Office of Student Aid, academic colleges, campuses and other units; about one in four undergraduates receives a university scholarship. Admitted students who submit the FAFSA are considered. Typical awards range from US$1,500 to US$5,000 a year, with an average that usually does not exceed US$2,500; Office of Student Aid scholarships range from US$1,500 to US$3,200 a year and campus scholarships from US$800 to US$6,000 per academic year. Most require full-time enrolment and many a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
These awards require U.S. citizenship or permanent residency, and consideration runs through May 1; no separate application is needed.
The Stafford Loan and Federal Work-Study programs are available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents who file the FAFSA. Graduate funding comes from assistantships, fellowships and traineeships offered through colleges and programs; indicate interest on the application and contact the program. International undergraduates certify funds for the first year of study.
File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); the Office of Student Aid makes all awards. More at Penn State scholarships.
Penn State Provost Academic Award →
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Browse the scholarships listed for Pennsylvania State University and check each award’s eligibility.
View scholarships for Pennsylvania State University →First-year applicants are U.S. citizens or permanent residents in high school or with fewer than 18 college credits. Apply through MyPennState or the Common App; Penn State has no preference between the two. The application opens August 1 for fall and summer terms and June 1 for spring. The Early Action deadline is November 1 with decisions by December 24; December 1 is the recommended submission deadline for all applications, after which applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Most campuses other than University Park accept applications into the summer, and the fall application closes July 28. Minimum high school course units depend on the college and major (Category 1 includes Smeal, Earth and Mineral Sciences, Engineering, Information Sciences and Technology and Eberly College of Science at University Park); two units of a single world language are required, though the deficiency may be corrected before graduation.
Penn State is test-optional for first-year applicants: SAT or ACT scores may be self-reported in MyPennState and are not required. The highest combined score from a single test date is used, with no superscoring, and the optional ACT Science section is neither required nor accepted. Applicants to the Accelerated Premedical-Medical Program must submit scores. SAT code 2660; ACT code 3656.
The application fee is US$65 for domestic applicants and US$75 for international applicants and is non-refundable. Fee waivers are available to eligible applicants.
Anyone needing a visa is an international student. First-year applicants submit the application, a self-reported STARS academic record (South Korean applicants submit official transcripts), optional SAT/ACT scores and proof of English proficiency. Transfer applicants submit post-secondary records and proof of English proficiency. Deadlines match those for domestic students; final deadlines apply because of visa processing. After admission, students certify sufficient funds for the first calendar year; Penn State Global handles the I-20.
English proficiency (scores under two years old for TOEFL, IELTS and Duolingo): Duolingo English Test 120; TOEFL iBT 80 for tests taken before January 21, 2026, and 4.5 on the new scale for tests taken after that date; IELTS Academic 6.5; SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 570; ACT English 24; GCSE/GCE English language grade A, B or C; IB English A score 5 or higher; four years in a U.S. high school; or certification from the Intensive English Communication Program. Transfer credit is considered for A-Levels (grades A-C), Abitur, CAPE (III or higher), IB Higher Level (5-7), AP and CLEP.
Applicants hold a bachelor's degree or comparable tertiary degree from a recognised institution, conferred before the start of the admission semester, and meet the requirements of the intended program, which sets its own deadlines and tests. Application fees: US$65 for U.S. applicants and US$85 for international applicants for degree and certificate programs; US$30 for non-degree admission. International applicants are encouraged to apply at least four months before the semester starts. Applications are made through the Fox Graduate School portal.
Dining commons, food courts and cafes operate on every campus, and campus recreation facilities, fitness classes, 50+ club sports and 30+ intramural sports are available.
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