Pennsylvania State University: Statistics

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Position Category
#21 of 14,131 In the World
#17 of 2,597 In North America
#16 of 2,496 In the United States
#2 of 155 In Pennsylvania
#1 of 2 In University Park
#2 of 1,383 For Engineering Management
Top10 For 38 other topics
Subject rankings

Quick Review

Acceptance rate
55%
Average SAT
1300
Average ACT
29
Aid receiving
68%
Undergraduates
41,745
Graduates
8,283
Male:Female Ratio
52:48
Control
Public
Highest Degree
Doctor's degree
Website
www.psu.edu

Pennsylvania State University Acceptance rate and admissions statistics

Pennsylvania State University has an acceptance rate of 55% and is among the top 18% of the most difficult universities to gain admission to in the United States. The university reports the admission statistics without distinguishing between local and international students.

Total Men Women
Acceptance Rate 55% 53% 57%
Applicants 85,784 39,364 46,114
Admissions 47,360 20,723 26,476
Freshmen enrolled full time 9,181 4,668 4,471
Freshmen enrolled part time 35 21 14

18,032 students enrolled in some distance education courses.

116 enrolled exclusively in distance education.

SAT scores

Among admitted applicants
3,547 or 38%
submitted SAT

25% of them
had 1210
or below

75% of them
had 1390
or below

Typical SAT scores of first-years in Pennsylvania State University are 1210-1390 (middle 50% range).

ACT scores

Among admitted applicants
654 or 7%
submitted ACT

25% of them
had 26
or below

75% of them
had 31
or below

Typical ACT scores of first-years in Pennsylvania State University are 26-31 (middle 50% range).

Admissions requirements

Secondary school GPA Required
Secondary school record Required
TOEFL Required
College-preparatory program Considered but not required
SAT/ACT Considered but not required
Formal demonstration of competencies Neither required nor recommended
Other Tests Neither required nor recommended
Recommendations Neither required nor recommended
Secondary school rank Neither required nor recommended

Enrollment demographics by race or ethnicity

White 29395 (59%)
Nonresident Alien 7903 (16%)
Hispanic 3955 (8%)
Asian 3307 (7%)
Black or African American 2168 (4%)
Two or more races 1691 (3%)
Race or Ethnicity unknown 1523 (3%)
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander 37 (0.1%)
American Indian or Alaska Native 25 (0%)

Costs per year: Tuition, Housing, Fees

The final cost of attendance varies for each student based on household income, residency, program, and other factors.

Average aid awarded
$10,066
Students receiving aid
68%

Tuition and fees

UndergraduatesGraduates
Tuition in-district $19,286$24,466
Tuition in-state $19,286$24,466
Tuition out-of-state $38,102$41,602
Fee in-district $549$549
Fee in-state $549$549
Fee out-of-state $549$549

Room and board costs

Dormitory capacity 14,275
Combined charge for room and board $12,984
Room charge $7,374
Meal charge $5,610

Pennsylvania State University majors

Pennsylvania State University has granted 10,293 bachelor's degrees across 137 programs, 1,602 master's across 107 programs, and 1,091 doctorate degrees across 95 programs. Below is a table with majors that lead to degrees at Pennsylvania State University.

Major Associate Bachelor Master Doctoral
Information Science & Studies 448 2 14
Finance, General 449
Psychology, General 427
Accounting 271 152
Mechanical Engineering 311 35 32
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other 338 7 12
Computer and Information Sciences, General 301
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, Other 293
Biology & Biological Sciences, General 253 1 5
Computer and Information Systems Security & Auditing & Information Assurance 234 3
Econometrics and Quantitative Economics 215 10 12
Electrical and Electronics Engineering 182 29 26
Marketing & Marketing Management, General 231
Law 216
Programs for Foreign Lawyers 201 1
Industrial Engineering 154 27 19
Chemical Engineering 172 6 19
Teacher Education, Multiple Levels 197
Journalism 190
Exercise Science and Kinesiology 178 6 4
Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement Administration 187
Mathematics, General 165 3 15
Digital Communication and Media & Multimedia 182
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Other 138 38 4
Political Science and Government, General 154 11 5
Civil Engineering, General 149 8 12
Medicine 157
Architectural Engineering 92 57 6
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical & Space Engineering, General 112 24 9
Communication Sciences and Disorders, General 119 19 5
Organizational Behavior Studies 143
International Relations and Affairs 139
Hospitality Administration & Management, Other 134 3
Economics, General 133
Health & Health Care Administration & Management 107 14 4
Business Administration and Management, General 116 8
Data Modeling & Warehousing and Database Administration 124
Labor and Industrial Relations 94 26
Statistics, General 84 12 19
Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering 89 11 7
Animal Sciences, General 95 6 4
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions, Other 100
Human Development and Family Studies, General 82 4 12
English Language and Literature, General 70 17 10
Biochemistry 81 7
Biological and Physical Sciences 86
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management, General 80 2 3
Engineering Science 45 23 16
Computer Science 56 27
Computer Engineering, General 81
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other 80
Chemistry, General 30 11 37
Nutrition Sciences 71 3 4
Speech Communication and Rhetoric 65 6 6
Management Information Systems, General 73
Agribusiness & Agricultural Business Operations 71
International & Globalization Studies 70
Materials Science 69
Physics, General 50 3 15
History, General 63 4
Cinematography and Film & Video Production 66
Secondary Education and Teaching 65
Engineering, Other 56 8
Pre-Veterinary Studies 60
Spanish Language and Literature 51 5 4
Architecture 50 5 4
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations, Other 59
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, General 41 9 8
Curriculum and Instruction 31 27
Mass Communication & Media Studies 50 6
Philosophy 49 2 2
Agricultural Engineering 41 5 6
Geology & Earth Science, General 30 10 10
Food Science 38 8 3
Public Health, General 37 12
Petroleum Engineering 32 6 6
Plant Sciences, General 43 1
Sociology, General 32 9 3
Landscape Architecture 31 12
Research and Experimental Psychology, Other 18 25
Veterinary Microbiology and Immunobiology 43
Art & Art Studies, General 29 13
Anthropology, General 27 10 4
Forensic Science and Technology 31 10
Geography 31 1 9
Materials Engineering 11 30
Pre-Medicine & Pre-Medical Studies 39
Special Education and Teaching, General 14 22 3
Astronomy 28 2 8
Artificial Intelligence 37
Management Science 37
Natural Resources & Conservation, General 35
Counselor Education & School Counseling and Guidance Services 25 7
Environmental & Environmental Health Engineering 27 3 1
Informatics 8 20 3
Music Teacher Education 28 2
Physician Assistant 30
Nuclear Engineering 22 3 4
Music, General 28
Actuarial Science 27
Geological and Earth Sciences & Geosciences, Other 27
Natural Resources and Conservation, Other 26 1
Biology & Biotechnology Technology & Technician 25
Computer and Information Sciences, Other 25
Financial Mathematics 24
Graphic Design 24
Human-Centered Technology Design 24
Higher Education & Higher Education Administration 14 9
Agriculture, General 22
Development Economics and International Development 21
Forest Sciences and Biology 21
French Language and Literature 15 5 1
Trade and Industrial Teacher Education 3 7 10
Acting 18
Art History, Criticism and Conservation 12 4 2
Biomedical Sciences, General 1 17
Comparative Literature 11 5 2
Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology 17
Music Performance, General 3 14
Agricultural and Extension Education Services 12 3 1
Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research, Other 16
Technical Theatre & Theatre Design and Technology 16
Turf and Turfgrass Management 16
Athletic Training & Trainer 15
Entomology 6 9
Sustainability Studies 10 4 1
Chinese Language and Literature 14
Public Policy Analysis, General 14
Design and Applied Arts, Other 13
German Language and Literature 10 2
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General 11
Ecology 6 5
Landscaping and Groundskeeping 11
Architectural and Building Sciences & Technology 10
Art Teacher Education 5 5
Geography and Environmental Studies 4 6
Science, Technology and Society 10
Women's Studies 10
Asian Studies & Civilization 9
Liberal Arts and Sciences & Liberal Studies 4 5
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other 9
Toxicology 9
Visual and Performing Arts, General 9
Bioinformatics 2 6
Data Processing and Data Processing Technology & Technician 8
Foreign Language Teacher Education 8
Human Resources Management & Personnel Administration, General 8
Humanities & Humanistic Studies 8
Keyboard Instruments 2 6
Legal Professions and Studies, Other 8
Acoustics 4 3
African-American & Black Studies 7
Drama and Dramatics & Theatre Arts, General 7
Educational & Instructional Technology 7
Mining and Mineral Engineering 7
Russian Language and Literature 7
Soil Science and Agronomy, General 3 4
Anatomy 3 3
Animal Physiology 3 3
Biostatistics 6
Biotechnology 6
Educational Psychology 2 4
Forest Management & Forest Resources Management 6
Japanese Language and Literature 6
Manufacturing Engineering 6
School Psychology 5 1
Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education 1 5
Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language & ESL Language Instructor 6
Agronomy and Crop Science 4 1
Criminology 2 3
Epidemiology 2 3
Italian Language and Literature 5
Neuroscience 5
Horticultural Science 2 2
Music History, Literature, and Theory 4
Nanotechnology 4
Plant Pathology & Phytopathology 3 1
Plant Sciences, Other 1 3
Social Sciences, Other 2 2
Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching 3
Medieval and Renaissance Studies 3
Jewish & Judaic Studies 2
Korean Language and Literature 2
Linguistics 2
Music Theory and Composition 2
Pathology & Experimental Pathology 1 1
Photography 2
Archeology 1
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other 1
Dance, General 1
Immunology 1
Surveying Engineering 1
Grand Total 4 10,293 1,602 1,091

Pennsylvania State University has a graduation rate of 83%, which is among the 10% highest for universities in the US.

Total Men Women
Graduation rate 83% 80% 86%
  • Full-time retention rate - 91%
  • Part-time retention rate - 67%

Publications & Citations

Pennsylvania State University is a world-class research university with 267,714 scientific papers published and 8,268,712 citations received. The research profile covers a range of fields, including Engineering, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, Environmental Science, Computer Science, Quantum and Particle physics, Medicine, and Materials Science.

Publications
267,714
Citations
8,268,712

Publication / Citation count by topic

Engineering
139,539 / 4,237,875
Biology
135,993 / 5,069,355
Physics
131,501 / 4,393,348
Chemistry
128,535 / 4,706,678
Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
115,989 / 3,279,861
Environmental Science
112,190 / 3,497,829
Computer Science
108,989 / 3,422,059
Quantum and Particle physics
93,369 / 3,306,251
Medicine
89,252 / 2,935,698
Materials Science
71,993 / 2,361,231
Organic Chemistry
68,156 / 2,561,552
Geology
63,086 / 2,051,624
Psychology
59,841 / 2,029,988
Biochemistry
59,211 / 2,658,385
Geography and Cartography
59,105 / 1,726,949
Political Science
58,287 / 1,517,142
Genetics
55,472 / 2,376,101
Law
55,076 / 1,449,776
Mathematics
54,754 / 1,678,293
Philosophy
53,374 / 1,517,250
Sociology
50,958 / 1,479,366
Business
44,851 / 1,342,685
Ecology
44,389 / 1,531,353
Statistics
40,193 / 1,345,355
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
37,865 / 1,122,100
Optical Engineering
37,519 / 1,161,947
History
36,859 / 910,014
Paleontology
36,778 / 1,276,996
Electrical Engineering
33,253 / 1,005,615
Economics
32,348 / 868,237
Pathology
32,266 / 1,150,831
Archaeology
30,961 / 832,950
Metallurgical Engineering
29,588 / 1,097,834
Linguistics
27,243 / 778,008
Psychiatry
25,169 / 910,754
Mechanical Engineering
24,488 / 578,029
Astrophysics and Astronomy
22,929 / 988,557
Art & Design
22,516 / 522,453
Social Psychology
22,031 / 883,687
Management
21,234 / 728,830

Annual publication & citation counts

Year Publications Citations
1991 3001 27223
1992 3123 29530
1993 3430 31282
1994 3429 34957
1995 3352 37281
1996 3851 42796
1997 3935 46909
1998 4064 53035
1999 4058 59426
2000 4296 70226
2001 4579 78806
2002 6071 92877
2003 5668 105896
2004 5924 119947
2005 6400 140717
2006 7005 161981
2007 6898 186199
2008 7293 202998
2009 7264 230278
2010 7612 257519
2011 8172 290100
2012 7912 321861
2013 8515 354692
2014 8637 377434
2015 8833 391925
2016 9266 400676
2017 9519 411691
2018 10150 458092
2019 10461 494604
2020 11745 555963
2021 11293 609118
2022 10471 604428
2023 10502 593941
Academic rankings

Pennsylvania State University alumni

  1. Keegan-Michael Key

    Keegan-Michael Key
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1971-.. (age 53)
    Occupations
    voice actortelevision produceractortelevision actorscreenwriter
    Biography

    Keegan-Michael Key is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, and producer. He and Jordan Peele co-created and co-starred in the sketch series Key & Peele (2012–2015) for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award. He also acted in the sketch series Mad TV (2004–2009), sitcom Playing House (2014–2017), the comedy series Friends from College (2017–2019) and the series Reboot (2022). He also appeared alongside Peele in the first season of the series Fargo in 2014, and had a recurring role on Parks and Recreation from 2013 to 2015. Key later starred in the musical comedy series Schmigadoon! (2021–2023).

  2. Gene Kelly

    Gene Kelly
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1912-1996 (aged 84)
    Occupations
    television actordirectordancerfilm directorfilm producer
    Biography

    Eugene Curran Kelly was an American dancer, actor, singer, director and choreographer. He was known for his energetic and athletic dancing style and sought to create a new form of American dance accessible to the general public, which he called "dance for the common man". He starred in, choreographed, and co-directed with Stanley Donen some of the most well-regarded musical films of the 1940s and 1950s.

  3. Ty Burrell

    Ty Burrell
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1967-.. (age 57)
    Occupations
    television actorstage actorfilm actoractorvoice actor
    Biography

    Tyler Gerald Burrell is an American actor. Burrell is best known for his role as Phil Dunphy on the ABC sitcom Modern Family, for which he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2011 and 2014, from eight consecutive nominations.

  4. Adam McKay

    Adam McKay
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1968-.. (age 56)
    Occupations
    screenwriteractorfilm producerfilm directorpodcaster
    Biography

    Adam McKay is an American filmmaker. McKay began his career as a head writer for the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live from 1995 to 2001. Following his departure from SNL, he rose to fame in the 2000s for his collaborations with comedian Will Ferrell and helped him write his comedy films Anchorman, Talladega Nights, and The Other Guys. Ferrell and McKay later co-wrote and co-produced numerous television series and films, with McKay himself co-producing their website Funny or Die through their company Gary Sanchez Productions.

All 100 notable alumni

General info

Alternative names Penn State
PSU
Founded 1855
Motto Making life better
Colors blue, white
Academic calendar September to May (August - December; January-May)
Total FTE staff 16,956
Carnegie classification Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity

Location and contacts

Address 201 Old Main
University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802-1503
United States
Phone 8148654700

Pennsylvania State University in social media