Public
Accredited Β· Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Dunmore, Pennsylvania
94.9% Acceptance Rate
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton β Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
94.9%Acceptance Rate
1190Avg SAT
$27,126Annual Cost
$63,435Grad Salary
43.3%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
94.9%
Avg SAT
1190
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Branch Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
1070β1280
Avg Net Price
$18,934
Need-Based Aid
43.3% receive Pell
Penn State Scranton, established in 1923, is a Commonwealth Campus located on 45 acres in northeastern Pennsylvania. The campus offers 10+ bachelor's degrees that can be completed locally, plus the first two years of all Penn State majors. Scranton features modern facilities including the Dawson Building for science and technology and the Study Learning Center, maintaining a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio. The campus's '2+2' program allows students to begin their Penn State education close to home.
Scranton's location provides internship opportunities in healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing. The campus's Business and Economic Development Center supports regional entrepreneurs, while its Continuing Education department offers workforce training programs. Scranton's partnership with Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine enhances health sciences education. The campus hosts cultural events including the annual Penn State Downtown Lecture Series.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton Acceptance Rate
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton (Penn State) runs an open-access admission policy. With a 94.9% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in. They are worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive β 94.9% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline, though the priority deadline of November 1 is recommended for the best chances of admission and financial aid.
Key Admission Dates
β³ 79 days left β Priority Freshman
Rolling Admissions β Apply Anytime
Penn State reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
Priority Freshman
November 1
Decision by: December 24
π‘ The scholarship deadline (November 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Check Your Admission Chances at Penn State
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis β based on Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton's verified institutional data
--%
Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
β οΈ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton (Penn State) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Penn State is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Penn State Without SAT or ACT?
Penn State considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2β3 times.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton Average SAT Score: 1190
The average SAT score of admitted students at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton is 1190 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1190 β Less Competitive
This average is slightly below the national mean SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1280 SAT) to stand out. Below average? Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps β a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1070, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Penn State. Retaking multiple times is completely normal. Most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 585 | 530 | 640 |
| SAT Reading | 590 | 540 | 640 |
| SAT Composite | 1190 | 1070 | 1280 |
Below 1070, you're behind most admitted students; at 1280 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1200
Can I get into Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton (Penn State) with a 1300 SAT?
A 1300 SAT puts you ahead of most of Penn State's admitted class, but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Penn State
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Penn State's open-access model means the real strategic decisions happen after enrollment: course planning, advising, and whether to transfer later.
List Scranton as Your Named Alternate-Choice Campus
Penn State requires applicants to name both a first-choice and an alternate-choice starting campus, and many students end up admitted to their alternate. If your real target is University Park or a competitive major, listing Scranton as your alternate is a legitimate, university-sanctioned way to guarantee entry into the Penn State system (Scranton's acceptance rate runs around 99%) while preserving a path to your first choice through the 2+2 Plan later.
Map Your Target Major's Entrance-to-Major Requirements Before You Register for Classes
Moving from Scranton to University Park under the 2+2 Plan doesn't require reapplying, but it does require meeting your intended major's specific Entrance-to-Major (ETM) criteria - and these vary significantly: competitive programs like nursing, business, and engineering often demand a GPA well above Scranton's own admission bar. Meet with your academic adviser in your very first semester, name your target major and destination campus explicitly, and build your two-year course schedule around the exact ETM thresholds rather than a generic "good GPA" goal.
Write the Optional Essay Anyway - and Name Scranton Specifically
Penn State's personal statement is optional (and it accepts your Common App essay as the submission), but writing one that references Scranton's actual programs - its nursing program, business building, or its identity as a small commuter campus - signals genuine engagement that a generic "why Penn State" essay doesn't. Given how non-selective Scranton's admission is, this costs little effort but helps at the margins for scholarship consideration.
Verify Scranton's Continuing Status, Then Apply by November 1
As of the Board of Trustees' May 2026 decision, Scranton is one of the 13 Commonwealth Campuses Penn State committed to keep investing in long-term - not one of the 7 campuses closing after the 2026-27 academic year. Apply confidently by the November 1 Early Action deadline for the best odds and earliest decision (by December 24), since rolling review afterward fills competitive majors and University Park slots on a space-available basis.
Expert Insight:
Students often treat the 2+2 Plan as an automatic escalator to University Park, but Entrance-to-Major requirements differ sharply by program - a student who coasts through their first two years at Scranton without checking their target major's specific GPA and prerequisite thresholds can find themselves rerouted into the University Exploration program rather than their intended major, since ETM criteria are enforced regardless of how easy admission to Scranton itself was.
Penn State Profile
Full Name
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton (Penn State)
City
Dunmore
State
Pennsylvania
ZIP Code
18512-1602
Type
Public
Campus
Branch Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)
Is a Penn State Degree Worth It?
Penn State offers a rigorous academic environment, but 'worth it' is a personal calculation of cost, program fit, and outcomes. The figures below are a starting point.
The average household income among admitted students is $63,400, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.15%.
How much does a degree from Penn State Cost?
The sticker price is $27,126/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is closer to $18,934.
43.3% of students receive a Pell Grant and 57.8% take federal loans at Penn State. File your FAFSA early and list Penn State as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Penn State Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4β6 years post-graduation) are $63,435. That's about 56% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon College | Montgomery, AL | 1148 | 23 |
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 1174 | 25 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, CO | 1140 | 25 |
| Florida International University | Miami, FL | 1154 | 23 |
| Georgia College & State University | Milledgeville, GA | 1150 | 24 |
| Georgia State University | Atlanta, GA | 1149 | 23 |
| Savannah College of Art and Design | Savannah, GA | 1178 | 25 |
| Toccoa Falls College | Toccoa Falls, GA | 1155 | 23 |
| Chaminade University of Honolulu | Honolulu, HI | 1155 | NA |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham, AL | 1197 | 24 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
| Dominican University of California | San Rafael, CA | 1194 | 26 |
| Eastern Connecticut State University | Willimantic, CT | 1200 | NA |
| University of New Haven | West Haven, CT | 1190 | NA |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | 1251 | 26 |
| University of Mobile | Mobile, AL | 1220 | 24 |
| University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ | 1261 | 26 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | Prescott, AZ | 1256 | 27 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | 1222 | 26 |
Degree Programs at Penn State
Bachelor Degree Programs
Associate Degree Programs
UG Certificate or Diploma Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Penn State Admissions
Median graduate earnings at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton run about $63,435 a year.
At about $27,126 a year, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton is on the more affordable end.
About 43.3% receive a Pell Grant at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton. The odds are moderate and largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 94.9%, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
A strong SAT score matters at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton β aim above 1190, ideally within the 1070β1280 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton is November 1. Admission decisions are released by December 24. Rolling Admissions is also offered, so applying early improves your chances.
The application fee is 65. Fee waivers may be available. Check with admissions.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is November 1, 2026. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes, transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most, along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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