US CollegesGetting in
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus admits 61% of those who apply, which makes it moderately selective. The median admission rate of colleges on this site that report one is 77%. The average SAT score of admitted students is 1337 out of 1600.
What it costs
| Tuition and fees, students from Pennsylvania | $21,098 |
| Tuition and fees, students from elsewhere | $43,490 |
| Room and meals on campus | $15,346 |
| Books and supplies | $1,200 |
| Average full cost of a year (tuition, living, books), before aid | $41,003 |
| Average net price after grants and scholarships | $33,675 |
The net price is what students who got federal aid paid on average for a year after grants and scholarships were taken off (for a public college, students from inside the state). It is 57% above the median net price of colleges in Pennsylvania on this site ($21,445). International students are normally charged the out-of-state tuition and do not receive US federal aid.
Net price by family income
| Family income a year | Average net price |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | $22,193 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $21,267 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $25,458 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $31,948 |
| Above $110,000 | $39,140 |
For students who received federal aid. A negative figure means grants were larger than the cost counted.
For an estimate that fits your own family, use the college's net price calculator.
Results
| Measure | This college | PA median | US median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students who come back for a second year | 93% | 78% | 73% |
| Students who finish their degree (within one and a half times the normal length) | 85% | 57% | 49% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting | $71,762 | $62,618 | $53,132 |
| Median federal loan debt of those who finish | $24,500 | $24,500 | $19,994 |
Medians are the middle value of the colleges on this site in Pennsylvania and in the whole country. Completion and return rates count first-time, full-time students. Earnings and debt count students who received federal aid.
The students
16% of undergraduates receive a Pell Grant, the federal grant for students from lower-income families. 42% take a federal student loan. The undergraduate body is 47% women and 53% men. By undergraduate numbers it is number 1 of the 154 colleges in Pennsylvania on this site that report a size; the middle-sized one has 1,488.
Other colleges in Pennsylvania of a similar size
- Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, public
- University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPittsburgh, public
- West Chester University of PennsylvaniaWest Chester, public
- Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia, private nonprofit
- University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, private nonprofit
- Commonwealth University of PennsylvaniaBloomsburg, public
Common questions
What is the acceptance rate of Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus?
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus admits 61% of applicants, according to the College Scorecard.
How much is tuition at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus?
Published tuition and fees are $21,098 a year for students from Pennsylvania and $43,490 for others. Most students with aid pay less: see the net price.
What is the graduation rate of Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus?
85% of first-time, full-time students finish within one and a half times the normal length of the course.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, data released on 2 November 2026; checked in November 2026. Net price, debt and earnings describe students who received US federal aid. Costs change each year. This is official data for general information, not advice: confirm costs and admission rules on the college's own website and at collegescorecard.ed.gov.