General FAQs

You are eligible for an application fee waiver if you meet one or more of the following criteria:

• You are enrolled in or eligible to participate in the federal free or reduced price lunch program (FRPL).
  If you attend a school where all students receive free lunch or testing fee waivers, you do not necessarily qualify for an application fee waiver. Before requesting an application fee waiver, check if you meet federal guidelines for FRPL or ensure you meet at least 1 other qualification.

• You have received or are eligible to receive an SAT or ACT fee waiver.

• Your annual family income falls within the income eligibility guidelines set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.

• Your family receives public assistance.

• You are enrolled in a federal, state, or local program that aids students from low-income families (e.g., GEAR UP, TRIO such as Upward Bound or others).

• You live in a federally subsidized public housing, a foster home or are homeless.

• You are a ward of the state or an orphan.

• You have received or are eligible to receive a Pell Grant.

• You can provide a supporting statement from a school official, college access counselor, financial aid officer, or community leader.

The Penn State Undergraduate Admissions application requires applicants to pay a nonrefundable application fee via credit card. Students who have requested and received an approved application fee waiver will be able to bypass the payment screen on the application.

Domestic Fee: $65

International Fee: $75

Returning to Penn State

We are so happy you want to come back to Penn State and continue your studies! Your student status at the time you left the University will determine the next steps you need to take in order to re-enroll.

Re-enrolling Students who were in Degree Status

Students who previously attended Penn State and were in a degree program at the time of last enrollment, or students who want to return to complete a second undergraduate degree, need to contact the Office of the University Registrar to request to be re-enrolled. We look forward to having you back at Penn State.

Housing is only guaranteed for first-year students attending University Park, Behrend, and Schuylkill campuses. Housing options are available at all Penn State Campus locations. Find more information on the or by contacting the directly.

Yes, Penn State has an extensive Study Abroad program with a variety of timeframes and locations. Review our and begin to explore your options for adding a program to your Penn State experience.

Students who have taken Advanced Level (A-Level) Examinations may be able to earn Penn State credit. Please review our information.

Online learning options are available through Penn State World Campus. Penn State World Campus offers the convenience and flexibility of learning online—anytime, anywhere. Courses taken online are the same as those taken at any other campus in the Penn State system.

If you have taken Advanced Placement (AP) tests, you may be able to earn Penn State credit. Please review our information.

Students who have taken International Baccalaureate (IB) Examinations may be able to earn Penn State credit. Please review our information.

Taking College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) examinations may allow you to earn Penn State credit. Please review our information.

A variety of resources are available to Penn State's , with additional tuition assistance information available through the Office of Veterans Affairs.

Students not yet enrolled at Penn State should email admissions@psu.edu with any request to update residency to learn more about requirements and processes. Current students will work with the Office of the Bursar for any appeals to review residency classification. Please review Penn State's residency information and policies to understand how applicants are considered for tuition purposes.

Convenient can be found on each Penn State campus including dining commons, food courts, cafeterias, cafes, convenience stores, and of course Penn State's Berkey Creamery.

Penn State is a public, non-profit University.

Penn State offers a variety of meal plans and dining options for students. Review our to explore dining options available at various Penn State campuses.

Students are considered full-time if they are enrolled in 12 or more credits over the fall or spring semesters.

Yes, students who were homeschooled may apply to Penn State.

Admissions Standards

All prospective students, whether in a high school or a homeschool program, will be subject to the same admissions standards.

Homeschool Requirements

Below are the basic admission requirements for all applicants, though depending on the major you choose, you may have to fulfill additional requirements.

• Academic coursework prerequisites

• Level of achievement (grade-point average)

• Standardized tests (SAT or ACT): Penn State will be Test Optional through summer/fall 2025. First-year Penn State applicants are able to chose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores as part of their applications.

• Proof of graduation: Final high school transcript with a school administrator signature and indication of a graduation date.

Since some students in homeschool programs may not follow a traditional high school curriculum, we may request further detailed documentation of their high school coursework and evaluations of progress as needed.

If you have already enrolled in or plan to enroll in any academic program in addition to high school (for example, college-level courses through a local college or university), please submit those credentials with your application in addition to the coursework documentation. Accredited program credits may be transferable to Penn State.

Penn State Undergraduate Admissions can be reached by mail at 201 Shields Building, 664 Curtin Road, University Park, PA 16802. Review our for additional ways to connect with Penn State Undergraduate Admissions.

Yes, students may attend Penn State as non-degree seeking students. Please review our steps for who want to apply for admission into a degree program at Penn State.

Penn State University Park has a variety of Division 1 athletics and is as a member of the Big Ten Conference. Learn more about available sports through the Penn State Athletics site. Additional athletic opportunities are available at the Penn State at various competition levels. Visit the Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) site for more information.

Reach Penn State Undergraduate Admissions at admissions@psu.edu or (814) 865-5471. General Penn State questions can be addressed at (814) 865-4700. Review a full listing of to reach a specific Penn State Campus admissions office or connect with Penn State Admissions resources.

Yes! All Penn State campuses have a variety of transportation options. Check out Transportation Services at University Park for more details or connect with the for information at specific locations.

A variety of are available to Penn State's military and veteran students. The Office of Veterans Affairs provides additional resources to help ease your transition as you become a Penn State student and pave the way for your academic and career success.

All application fees are non-refundable.

All students are required to graduate with a minimum of 2 units of foreign language. This may be satisfied with High School units or taken while a student at Penn State. Please review our for more information.

Penn State's academic calendar is available through the University Registrar website.

Student football tickets are available through Penn State Athletics. Visit the go.psu.sports site to purchase tickets for sporting events.

Students will be assigned a unique Penn State ID number associated with their application record. This number is used in communications throughout the admissions process. Once enrolled, a Penn State Student ID number will continue to be used for identification purposes through a variety of university systems.

For help logging into your MyPennState portal, please visit the account access assistance page.

Penn State offers a variety of clubs and organizations at all undergraduate campus locations. Please review clubs and organization information to help finding your place at Penn State.

Visit our resources for more information about the Penn State Community.