University Park, PA · 42.3k students
Trajecta score
+2.8 since '22Ranked #211 of 2,375
5-year trend
52.1 · #378
2022
55.5 · #271
2023
54.9 · #298
2024
Academic Profile
52/ 100
Career Outcomes
68/ 100
Student Success
79/ 100
Affordability
43/ 100
Academic Investment
85/ 100
Access & Equity
20/ 100
Academic Profile
52
Career Outcomes
68
Student Success
79
Affordability
43
Academic Investment
85
Access & Equity
20
AI Fit Analysis
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Cost / Net Price
$40k / $33k
SAT Avg
1,337
Retention
93%
Grad Rate
86%
Admissions
Test Scores
Scores represent the midpoint of enrolled students, not a cutoff.
Finances
Tuition
In-State Tuition
$20,644
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$41,790
per year
Out-of-state premium: +$21,146/yr
Aid & Debt
Pell Grant Share
14%
undergraduates receiving Pell
Federal Loan Share
40%
students borrowing
Median Debt
among completers
$25,000
Admissions Factors
Self-reported by the school in its Common Data Set (section C7) — the school's own statement of which application factors matter in its admissions decisions.
3.67
average high school GPA of enrolled freshmen · 96% reporting
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026, what Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus reports weighing in admissions.
| Factor | Very Important | Important | Considered | Not Considered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rigor of secondary school record | Rigor of secondary school record: Important | |||
| Class rank | Class rank: Not Considered | |||
| Academic GPA | Academic GPA: Very Important | |||
| Standardized test scores | Standardized test scores: Considered | |||
| Application essay | Application essay: Not Considered | |||
| Recommendation(s) | Recommendation(s): Not Considered | |||
| Interview | Interview: Not Considered | |||
| Extracurricular activities | Extracurricular activities: Not Considered | |||
| Talent/ability | Talent/ability: Considered | |||
| Character/personal qualities | Character/personal qualities: Not Considered | |||
| First generation | First generation: Not Considered | |||
| Alumni/ae relation | Alumni/ae relation: Not Considered | |||
| Geographical residence | Geographical residence: Considered | |||
| State residency | State residency: Considered | |||
| Religious affiliation/commitment | Religious affiliation/commitment: Not Considered | |||
| Volunteer work | Volunteer work: Not Considered | |||
| Work experience | Work experience: Not Considered | |||
| Level of applicant's interest | Level of applicant's interest: Not Considered |
Supplemental Essays · 2026-27
school's admissions site ↗Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus requires no supplemental essays (2026-27, per the school's official site) — only the personal statement applies.
Drafting these? Write them with AI feedback in Trajecta →
Methodology
The Trajecta Score (0–100) blends six dimensions of public college data into one comparable number, then nudges it by how much data each school reports. Selectivity tiers are separate — they’re based purely on a school’s admission rate.
Read the full methodologyMedian earnings 10 years out, earnings vs. a high-school grad, and loan repayment.
Admission selectivity and the incoming class’s SAT / ACT scores.
Average net price after aid and the typical debt of graduates.
Graduation rate and first-year retention.
Instructional spending and faculty salaries per student.
Share of Pell-grant students and reliance on federal loans.
Data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and IPEDS. Figures are the most recent reported and may lag a year or two. This tool is read-only and not personalized — inside the Trajecta app, scores are tailored to your profile as a fit score.
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