Admissions Requirements for First-Year Students

The minimum high school requirements for Penn State admission are outlined below. These requirements apply to all students who are interested in pursuing a degree at Penn State. Depending upon what type of applicant you are, you may also have to meet additional requirements. Please review all applicable requirements prior to applying for admission.

High School Requirements for a Four-Year Degree

The below chart outlines the minimum high school academic requirements for admission to a four-year program by units of study. In most high school curricula one unit is equal to one year of work.

Category 1:

Majors in these colleges at University Park:

• Smeal College of Business

• College of Earth and Mineral Sciences

• College of Engineering

• College of Information Sciences and Technology

• Eberly College of Science

Majors at other campuses:

• Business programs at Behrend and Harrisburg

• Engineering/Engineering Technology at Altoona, Erie, and Harrisburg

• Science at Altoona, Abington, Berks, Erie, Harrisburg, and Lehigh Valley

Category 2:

• Business programs at Abington, Altoona, Beaver, Berks, Brandywine, DuBois, Fayette, Greater Allegheny, Hazleton, Lehigh Valley, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Schuylkill, Scranton, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre, World Campus, York.

• All other four-year majors at the University and the Division of Undergraduate Studies

*Math Requirement:

Some colleges and majors require the completion of additional math in high school in order to be eligible for admission. Statistics does not meet the math requirement for those programs.

**World Language Requirement:

Two units in a single world language other than English are required. American Sign Language can be used to satisfy the World Language requirement for admission.

A student may be admitted with fewer than two units in a world language other than English but must correct this deficiency by the time they graduate from Penn State. This deficiency may be corrected by passing one three-credit or four-credit college-level world language course, by earning transferable credits from another institution, or by demonstrating proficiency equivalent to two units of high school world language study.

High School Requirements for a Two-Year Degree

The below chart outlines the minimum high school academic requirements for admission to a two-year program by units of study. In most high school curricula one unit is equal to one year of work.

Information for Applicants with a GED

If you did not graduate from high school and earned a GED, official high school transcripts through the last year you completed AND an official GED transcript are required.

All high school and GED transcripts must be sent directly to Penn State from the high school (educational institution of origin) or GED testing center to be considered official. Students can obtain their official GED through the Department of Education in the state from which the GED was received.

The following links are helpful in acquiring the GED transcript:

• GED Testing Service

• Pennsylvania GED transcript request form

The Undergraduate Admissions Office will review each applicant's high school coursework and/or GED individually when considering a student for admission.

Adult Learner Applicant with a GED

Adult learners are required to send a GED transcript only. Please review Penn State’s definition of an adult learner to determine what you will need to include with your application.