Penn State SAT & ACT Score Requirements: What You Need to Get In (2026)

Last Updated: April 22, 2026

Key Takeaways

• Penn State University Park's admitted-student SAT middle 50 is 1320 to 1450 and ACT middle 50 is 29 to 33 for the most recent Class of 2028 cohort.
• Penn State is test-optional through Fall 2026. The Faculty Senate extended the policy in 2024 while a longer-term decision is studied. Applicants choose whether submitted scores factor into the review.
• Penn State does not superscore. It uses the highest combined score from a single test date. Multiple sittings do not combine section bests across dates.
• Overall acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 was approximately 60 percent (53,579 admitted from 88,478 applicants). Early Action acceptance has historically run closer to 71 percent.
• The admitted average unweighted GPA is 3.65 to 3.94. Half of enrolled students have a 4.0 or above. 95 percent of enrolled students ranked in the upper half of their high school class.

What SAT or ACT Score Do You Need for Penn State?

Penn State University Park does not publish a minimum and uses a holistic review. What it does publish, through the Penn State Undergraduate Admissions office, are the middle 50 percent score ranges for the Class of 2028 admitted students:

Half of Penn State's admitted Class of 2028 (score submitters) scored inside 1320 to 1450 on the SAT and 29 to 33 on the ACT. Practical target: aim for a 1385 SAT or a 31 ACT to land in the middle of the admitted pool. A 1320 or 29 keeps you competitive. A 1450 or 33 puts you at or above most admits.

Note the gap between admitted and enrolled ranges. Admitted students who enrolled tended to have slightly lower scores than the full admit pool, which is typical: the highest scorers are more likely to enroll elsewhere after acceptance.

Penn State Is Test-Optional Through Fall 2026

Penn State's Faculty Senate voted in 2024 to extend test-optional admissions through the Fall 2026 admissions cycle while a committee continues to review whether to make the policy permanent or revert to required testing. In the meantime, applicants have a choice:

• Submit scores. Your self-reported SAT or ACT from MyPennState is read as part of the application. If your scores are at or above the admitted middle 50, this is a clear net positive.
• Go test-optional. You check the box to indicate scores should not factor into the review. Penn State will not request them later, even if you listed them on the Common App. Students admitted without scores are never asked to supply them post-admit.

Important detail: if Penn State already has scores on file (for example, you sent them through College Board earlier) but you elect test-optional, those scores will not be reviewed. Going test-optional is binding for the review, not just a formality.

When to Submit Scores and When to Skip

A useful rule of thumb, given the Class of 2028 admitted ranges:

• SAT 1320 or higher, or ACT 29 or higher. Submit. You are at or above the 25th percentile of admits. Scores strengthen your file.
• SAT 1240 to 1310, or ACT 27 or 28. Judgment call. Enrolled-student ranges suggest scores in this band still find success, but you are below the admitted 25th percentile. If the rest of your file is strong (top decile class rank, 3.9+ GPA, clear rigor), go test-optional. If you need every signal you can get, submit.
• SAT 1230 or lower, or ACT 26 or lower. Go test-optional. Submitting below the enrolled 25th percentile typically pulls the reader's impression down. The exception is applicants to the Accelerated Premedical-Medical BS/MD program, which requires scores regardless.

Penn State Does Not Superscore (and Other Testing Quirks)

A few Penn State-specific testing details that catch applicants off guard:

• No superscore. Penn State considers your highest total from a single test date, not the best section scores combined across multiple sittings. If you took the SAT twice and had a higher Math on one date and higher Reading-Writing on another, only the better combined date counts.
• ACT Science is not required or accepted. Penn State joined the group of universities that dropped the ACT Science section. If you took the old-format ACT with Science, that score is fine but the Science subscore does not factor.
• Self-reported scores through MyPennState. You enter scores yourself after submitting the Common App. Penn State does not require official score reports during the application phase. Official reports are only required after you commit to enroll.
• No TOEFL or IELTS gating for domestic applicants. Standard domestic-applicant testing is SAT or ACT only, and either is optional.

Penn State GPA Requirements and Class Rank

Penn State does not publish a minimum GPA. What it does report, through its Class Profile, is what admitted and enrolled students actually bring to the table:

• Admitted-student unweighted GPA range: 3.65 to 3.94.
• Half of enrolled students have a 4.0 or above. This reflects the widespread use of weighted grading at competitive high schools.
• Class rank, for enrolled students: 95 percent in the top half of their graduating class, 72 percent in the top quarter, 37 percent in the top decile.

Practical translation: Penn State University Park is looking for strong A-range students in a rigorous curriculum, not straight-A valedictorians with a perfect transcript. The admit pool is meaningfully more accessible than at top-30 private research universities, but it is genuinely competitive, especially for the most popular majors.

Early Action Is the Single Biggest Lever

Penn State offers only one non-standard application timeline, and it matters enormously:

The 20-plus-percentage-point gap between Early Action and rolling is not a Penn State marketing line, it is real. Penn State's own guidance is that Early Action applicants are reviewed "when we have more flexibility in our decisions" and that rolling applicants face tighter competition as seats at University Park fill through the spring.

Penn State Early Action is non-binding. You can apply EA to Penn State and still apply Early Decision or Early Action elsewhere. The November 1 deadline is a hard gate: applications completed after November 1 automatically move to rolling review.

Penn State Has 20-Plus Campuses. University Park Is the Hard One.

The "Penn State SAT requirements" question almost always refers to University Park, the main flagship campus in State College. But Penn State is a 23-campus system, and the other campuses are significantly less selective:

• University Park (main campus): ~60 percent admit rate. SAT middle 50 around 1320 to 1450.
• Commonwealth Campuses (Harrisburg, Altoona, Behrend, Berks, Brandywine, etc.): admit rates typically in the 70 to 90 percent range, with significantly lower score profiles. Many accept well below the University Park middle 50.
• 2+2 Plan: Applicants can start at a Commonwealth campus and transition to University Park for the final two years of many majors. This is Penn State's built-in back door if you want the Penn State degree without the University Park admit bar.

When applying, you choose your preferred campus. If you are a borderline University Park applicant, explicitly listing a Commonwealth campus as your second preference raises your probability of a Penn State admission meaningfully.

What Penn State Weighs Beyond Test Scores

Because Penn State is test-optional, the rest of the file carries the decision. In rough order of weight at University Park:

1. Academic record. Unweighted and weighted GPA, course rigor, transcript trend. Penn State wants to see challenging coursework, especially in your intended major's area (STEM majors with strong math and science tracks, liberal arts majors with strong English and history).
2. Major selection and fit. Penn State admits by major, and some programs (Smeal College of Business, Schreyer Honors College, College of Engineering) are substantially more competitive than the University Park average.
3. Class rank. Penn State still reads class rank when provided. A top-10-percent rank is a strong plus.
4. Test scores, if submitted. SAT or ACT within the middle 50 strengthens the file.
5. Activities and essay. The Penn State application includes a personal statement and an activities section. Meaningful depth beats a long, shallow activity list.
6. Demonstrated interest. Applying Early Action, visiting (or attending virtual sessions), and listing Penn State as a clear priority all register.

Schreyer Honors College: The Selective Track Inside Penn State

The Schreyer Honors College is Penn State's honors program, and its admit rate is far tighter than the main University Park figure. Schreyer applicants face a separate application with its own essays, deadline, and review committee. Admitted Schreyer scholars tend to cluster in the 1450+ SAT or 33+ ACT range with near-perfect GPAs and strong extracurricular leadership.

Schreyer acceptance brings real benefits: priority registration, dedicated academic advising, a $4,000+ annual academic scholarship, and honors housing. If you are an academically strong Penn State applicant, applying to Schreyer at the same time is almost always worth the extra essay work.

A Realistic Prep Plan for Penn State-Level Scores

If University Park is your target and your current practice SAT is 1200 or ACT is 25, here is a reasonable pathway:

1. Sophomore spring to junior summer. Take one timed official practice SAT (via Bluebook) and one timed ACT. Pick the higher percentile test.
2. Junior fall. Begin structured prep. Two to three hours per week plus a full timed test every two or three weeks. Focus on your weakest section first.
3. Junior spring. First official sitting. Penn State does not superscore, so focus on having a single strong test date rather than stacking mediocre ones.
4. Summer before senior year. Intensive prep window if you need to retake. Target one full practice per week with precision review of every miss.
5. Fall senior year. Second sitting if needed, ideally with scores back before the November 1 Early Action deadline. Remember you can self-report, so you do not need official score reports in hand on Nov 1.

For adaptive practice, try the Larry Learns SAT platform or the Larry Learns ACT platform. If you are still deciding which test fits you better, our SAT vs ACT guide breaks down the differences.

Frequently Asked Questions About Penn State SAT and ACT Scores

What is the average SAT score for Penn State?

Approximately 1385, based on the Class of 2028 admitted-student middle 50 of 1320 to 1450 for University Park. Enrolled students average slightly lower, around 1330, with a middle 50 of 1250 to 1410.

What is the average ACT score for Penn State?

Approximately 31 for admitted students, with a middle 50 of 29 to 33. Enrolled students average around 30, with a middle 50 of 27 to 32.

What are Penn State's SAT requirements?

Penn State is test-optional through Fall 2026. No SAT score is required. If you submit, the admitted middle 50 is 1320 to 1450. Penn State uses a single-test-date highest total and does not superscore.

What are Penn State's ACT requirements?

Penn State is test-optional through Fall 2026. No ACT score is required. If you submit, the admitted middle 50 composite is 29 to 33. Penn State does not require or accept the ACT Science section.

Does Penn State require the SAT or ACT?

No. Penn State extended its test-optional policy through the Fall 2026 admissions cycle. The one exception is the Accelerated Premedical-Medical BS/MD program, which does require SAT or ACT scores by October 14.

Does Penn State superscore the SAT?

No. Penn State uses your highest combined score from a single test date. Section bests from different dates do not combine. This makes a strong single sitting more valuable than multiple average ones.

Should I submit scores to Penn State if I am test-optional eligible?

Submit if your SAT is 1320 or higher (or ACT 29 or higher). You are at or above the admitted 25th percentile. Below that, weigh the rest of your application: strong GPA, class rank, and rigor can fully substitute. Below roughly a 1240 SAT or 27 ACT, go test-optional.

What GPA do I need for Penn State?

There is no published minimum. Admitted-student unweighted GPA ranges from 3.65 to 3.94. Half of enrolled students have a 4.0 or above (reflecting weighted grading). 95 percent of enrolled students ranked in the top half of their high school class.

What is Penn State's acceptance rate?

Approximately 60 percent for the Class of 2028 at University Park (53,579 admitted from 88,478 applicants). Early Action acceptance runs closer to 71 percent. Commonwealth Campuses admit at significantly higher rates, often 75 to 90 percent.

When is the Penn State application deadline?

Early Action is November 1, with decisions by December 24. After November 1, applications move to rolling review, with decreasing availability as the spring progresses. There is no Regular Decision deadline, only rolling.

Is Penn State Early Action binding?

No. Penn State Early Action is non-binding and non-restrictive. You can apply EA to Penn State and simultaneously apply Early Decision or Early Action to any other school. The substantial admit-rate advantage (~71 percent EA vs lower for rolling) makes EA the right default for most applicants.

Does Penn State accept the Common App?

Yes. Penn State accepts the Common App and the Coalition for College application. Scores are self-reported through MyPennState after you submit, regardless of which application platform you used.

How hard is it to get into Schreyer Honors College?

Significantly harder than Penn State University Park. Schreyer has a separate application with additional essays and a lower admit rate than the main admissions process. Admitted Schreyer scholars tend to cluster at 1450+ SAT or 33+ ACT with near-perfect GPAs and strong leadership records.