Acceptance Rate for Penn State University for International Student 2024-2025 and Entry Requirements

Is the Acceptance Rate for Penn State University for International Student competitive? Read on to find out how competitive or selective the acceptance rate is for international students and know your chance of getting admission into the university.

Penn State University’s main campus, founded in 1855, is located in State College and College Township, Pennsylvania, a public research institution.

For the past decade, the University Park at Penn State has been rated among the top 100 universities in the world.

It is a university that enjoys a high reputation; therefore, it is a favored destination for international students who want to study abroad in a prestigious institution.

Because of the university’s competitiveness, many international students apply for admission only a few of them, in the end, are offered admission.

Acceptance Rate for Penn State University for International Student

The Pennsylvania State University’s main campus, University Park, has a moderately competitive admission process, with an acceptance rate of 55% for the generalized applicant pool.

This means that only 50 students out of the 100 applicants are granted admission.

Such is seen in the sheer number of applications that have been received by the university at large (more than 128,000) versus the few that have been enrolled (about 16,000).

The general acceptance rate indicates a moderate level of competitiveness.

The university has a large international student population from various countries, which is a great source of cultural diversity and a friendly environment.

Even though the overall acceptance rate is 55%, one has to keep in mind that some programs at Penn State may be more competitive than others.

What are Penn State’s Admission Requirements for International Students?

To apply to Penn State as an international student, you’ll need to provide certain documents along with your application:

1. Academic Records:

Submit your secondary school records and your postsecondary (college/university) transcripts. These papers have to be original and certified copies. If they’re not in English you should supply certified translations along with it.

2. English Language Proficiency:

If you do not have English as your mother tongue, you will be required to either pass or provide proof of your proficiency. This can be done using tests such as TOEFL, IELTS, or SAT among others.

3. Standardized Tests:

If you’re applying for 2025, you can choose to submit either an SAT or ACT score, but it’s not necessary.

Just remember that they are to be sent with confidentiality and that they will be shredded after review unless you request them back.

If you are from South Korea you should pay attention to the particular requirements for submitting your records.  High school transcripts must contain grades for core subjects such as math, science, social studies, and language.

You are required to submit transcripts from all the colleges you have attended before, including our college. Make sure that everything is official and in its right place to complete your application successfully.

How Much is Penn State Tuition for International Students?

The tuition fee for international students going to Penn State Campus will depend on the campus of their choice and their resident status.

For example, at the University Park campus for the 2023-2024 academic year, the tuition and fees are approximately $41,126.

This does not cover what you will also pay for room, board, travel, and personal supplies.

For all the Penn State Commonwealth Campuses, the tuition and fees are estimated to range from $24,716 to $27,612 for international students.

These figures are just an estimate and they may vary from year to year.

International students have to budget not only for the tuition fees but also for the other costs, such as housing and others.

Penn State offers means like the College Cost Calculator and Tuition website to assist students in calculating and estimating their expenses precisely.

Does Penn State Give Full Scholarships to International Students?

No, Penn State doesn’t provide full scholarships to international undergraduates at present.

The majority of financial aid sources, including government grants and loans, are only allocated to the citizens and permanent residents of the United States.

However, the tuition grants for current international students are few, and some emergency loans are also available for unexpected financial hardship.

For graduate students, there are more chances to get financial assistance in the form of assistantships and fellowships that can be used to pay for tuition, health insurance, and living expenses.

However, for undergraduates, the only options are outside scholarships from non-governmental sources or private alternative loans, which usually require a U.S. citizen as a co-signer.

If you’re considering Penn State, you might also look into the Schreyer Honors College, which offers some scholarship opportunities for incoming students.

So, unfortunately, full scholarships directly from Penn State for international undergraduates are not widely available.

What GPA do You Need to Get a Scholarship to Penn State?

Penn State usually requires a GPA of 3.0 or higher to be awarded a scholarship. This includes both graduate and undergraduate students at Penn State Harrisburg.

Several scholarships are open and if you meet the GPA requirement you will be considered for most of them without further application.

The scholarships are administered by the Office of Student Aid.

Therefore, if you get good grades, you will stand a higher chance of qualifying for financial aid to assist you with your education at Penn State.

Final Words

Penn State University is a high-ranking university that brings in students from other countries. However, it can be difficult to secure admission there.

The acceptance rate is about 55%, and as a result, only half of the applicants are admitted.

International student has more requirements than domestic ones, which include the English test scores and transcripts.

Tuition fees are often high, and there are just a few scholarships available for undergraduates.

So, if you are an international student and planning to study at Penn State, do enough research and be ready for a very competitive application process. Good luck with your academic pursuit at Penn State University!