How to Get Into Penn State University

What makes applying to Penn State different

Penn State is one university spread across many campuses, and the way you apply reflects that. Rather than simply applying to "Penn State," you tell the university which campus you want as your first choice, which campus is your alternate, and which program you are interested in. Understanding this campus-and-major structure early is the single biggest thing that separates a well-planned Penn State application from a rushed one.

Two more features are specific to Penn State. First, you can apply through either Penn State's own MyPennState application or the Common App, and the university states it has no preference between them. Second, Penn State asks first-year applicants to build a self-reported academic record called STARS rather than relying on the high school record inside the Common App.

This guide walks through those mechanics step by step so you can plan a realistic, well-sequenced application. Every deadline, fee, and program-specific rule below should be confirmed on Penn State's official undergraduate admissions site, because these details are set by the university and can change each cycle.

MyPennState, the Common App, and the STARS record

You may submit your application through MyPennState (Penn State's own portal) or through the Common App. Penn State accepts both equally, so choose whichever platform you find easier to complete. If you are also applying to other universities on the Common App, using it for Penn State can save you time.

A point that catches many applicants off guard: Penn State requires you to complete the STARS record (the Self-reported Transcript and Academic Record System), and it does not use the high school record built inside the Common App. STARS is where you self-report your courses and grades exactly as they appear on your transcript. If you apply through MyPennState you complete it while filling out the application; if you apply through the Common App, Penn State emails you instructions to complete your STARS record afterward. Your application is not considered complete until the STARS record is received.

For first-year applicants, Penn State is test-optional, meaning you are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you choose to send scores, follow Penn State's official instructions for score reporting. Whether to submit scores is a personal decision based on your own profile.

• Apply via MyPennState or the Common App — Penn State treats them equally.
• Complete the STARS self-reported academic record (the Common App high school record is not used).
• First-year admission is test-optional; SAT/ACT scores are not required.
• Confirm current requirements and deadlines on Penn State's official admissions site.

First-choice campus, alternate campus, and how review works

When you apply, you name a first-choice campus and an alternate-choice campus. Penn State reviews your application for your first-choice campus first. If it cannot offer admission there, it then reviews your application for your alternate campus (and, for University Park first-choice applicants, possibly the summer option described below).

University Park is Penn State's largest and most competitive campus, so many applicants list it as their first choice and a Commonwealth Campus (such as Abington, Altoona, Behrend, Harrisburg, and others) as the alternate. Because review is sequential, choosing an alternate you would genuinely be happy to attend is a smart, low-risk strategy — it gives Penn State a path to admit you even if the first-choice campus is full.

For most applicants, review focuses on admissibility to the campus rather than to a specific program. A few programs are exceptions and are more competitive because of enrollment limits; the section below explains how majors work.

The University Park summer option

If University Park is your first-choice campus and you are applying to start in the fall, Penn State asks whether you would be willing to begin in the summer session instead if fall admission is not offered. Saying yes can help, because summer admission to University Park is generally described as slightly less competitive than fall admission.

If you are admitted through the summer option, attendance in that summer session is required before you continue into the fall term at University Park. In practice, this is a genuine pathway to University Park for students who are close to the fall threshold and are flexible about their start date.

This option is specific to University Park first-choice, fall applicants. If it applies to you and you are comfortable starting early, opting in generally improves your odds of ending up at University Park. Confirm the current summer-option details on Penn State's official admissions site.

Entrance to major and the 2+2 plan

Most first-year students at Penn State enter in a pre-major or "entrance-to-major" status rather than being directly locked into a competitive major from day one. You take foundational coursework and then formally enter your intended major once you meet its entrance-to-major requirements. A limited number of programs — for example Nursing and Architecture — are noted as more competitive at the point of admission because of enrollment limits, so research your intended major's specific path on the official program pages.

Penn State's 2+2 plan is a well-known feature of its campus system. A student admitted to a Commonwealth Campus can complete the first two years there and finish the final two years at another campus (often University Park) in a program that is available for the change. Students may also choose to remain at their admitting campus for all four years if their program is offered there.

Because entrance-to-major rules and the 2+2 change-of-campus process are set per program and per campus, always confirm the requirements for your specific major and campus combination on Penn State's official site before you rely on them.

International applicants and building a strong file

International first-year applicants follow the same core steps — application, STARS record, campus and program selection — with additional requirements such as English proficiency testing and, after admission, the documents needed to obtain an F-1 student visa. Penn State publishes a dedicated set of steps for international students; use it to confirm accepted English tests, financial documentation, and I-20 issuance. Visa rules are set by the U.S. government, so verify F-1 requirements on the official U.S. government sources.

Beyond the mechanics, Penn State reviews applications in the context of your school and opportunities, considering your academic record most heavily. Strong course rigor, consistent grades reported accurately in STARS, and thoughtful campus and alternate-campus choices all matter.

To build the best file: pick an alternate campus you would truly attend, decide on the summer option if University Park is your first choice, complete STARS carefully, and confirm every deadline on Penn State's official admissions site. This is general guidance, not admission or immigration advice — always verify current rules with Penn State and the relevant official government sources.

• International students: confirm English tests, financial proof, and I-20/F-1 steps on official sources.
• Report coursework accurately in STARS; academic record carries the most weight.
• Choose an alternate campus you would genuinely attend.
• Verify all deadlines and program rules on Penn State's official site — no outcome is guaranteed.