Public
Accredited · Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Monaca, Pennsylvania
92.2% Acceptance Rate
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
92.2%Acceptance Rate
1191Avg SAT
24Avg ACT
$27,587Annual Cost
$63,435Grad Salary
33.5%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
92.2%
Avg SAT
1191
Avg ACT
24
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Branch Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
1050–1320
ACT Middle 50%
21–26
Avg Net Price
$18,657
Need-Based Aid
33.5% receive Pell
Penn State Beaver, founded in 1965, is a Commonwealth Campus located on 100 acres near the Ohio border. The campus offers the first two years of all Penn State majors plus 4 bachelor's degrees that can be completed locally. Beaver features modern facilities including the Science and Technology Building and the Student Union Building, maintaining a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio. The campus's '2+2' program provides a smooth transition to Penn State's University Park or other campuses.
Beaver's location provides internship opportunities with Pittsburgh-area corporations and healthcare providers. The campus's Continuing Education department offers workforce development programs aligned with regional needs. Beaver's partnership with Community College of Beaver County facilitates transfer pathways, while its STEM outreach programs serve local schools. The campus hosts cultural events including the annual Penn State Beaver Arts and Lecture Series.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver Acceptance Rate
Admission at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver is inclusive by design. 92.2% of applicants who meet basic eligibility are accepted.
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 — 92.2% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver 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
⏳ 80 days left — Priority Freshman
Rolling Admissions — 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
💡 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
Built from Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ 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 Beaver (Penn State) Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at Penn State. Landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
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 2–3 times.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver Average SAT Score: 1191
Admitted students at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver average a 1191 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1191 — Less Competitive
A 1191 average leaves meaningful room above it for a competitive application.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1320 SAT or 26 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 1050? A retake is worth it at Penn State. Two or three sittings is standard for competitive applicants, and there's no cap on how many times you can test.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 595 | 530 | 660 |
| SAT Reading | 590 | 520 | 660 |
| SAT Composite | 1191 | 1050 | 1320 |
A score under 1050 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1320+ puts you ahead of three-quarters of the admitted class. (These percentiles mark where a given share of the admitted class scored at or below.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1200
Can I get into Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver (Penn State) with a 1300 SAT?
At 1300, your SAT is squarely in Penn State's favor. That said, admissions staff read the full file. GPA, activities, and essays still carry real weight even with a strong score in hand.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver (Penn State) ACT Requirements
Penn State's admitted students average an ACT of 24.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 24 — Slightly Competitive
An average of 24 tracks near the middle of the national distribution.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 23 | 19 | 26 |
| ACT English | 23 | 21 | 24 |
| ACT Composite | 24 | 21 | 26 |
Can I get into Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver with a 26 ACT?
At 26, you're in the top quarter of Penn State's admitted class by ACT score. That's a real advantage, but admissions still reads GPA, essays, and activities alongside it.
The ACT's four sections, English, Math, Reading, and Science, are each scored independently on a 1–36 scale, and admissions staff do notice a lopsided breakdown. If one section trails the others significantly, that's worth addressing before you apply, particularly for STEM programs where Science carries extra weight.
Beyond the number itself, Penn State weighs your transcript rigor, activities, recommendations, and essays just as heavily. The ACT opens the door, and the rest of your file decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Penn State
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Penn State provides an open gateway to higher education. Success here is about using available resources well and planning your longer-term academic or career path.
Confirm Beaver's Closure Status Before You Apply - It's Staying Open
Penn State studied Beaver for possible closure alongside 12 other Commonwealth campuses, but the May 2026 Board of Trustees vote spared it - only DuBois, Fayette, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre, and York are closing after spring 2027. Applicants can commit to Beaver with confidence, but should verify this directly on psu.edu/beaver since plans have shifted before.
Use the 2+2 Plan Deliberately, Not as a Fallback
More than 60% of Penn State students start at a Commonwealth campus like Beaver under the 2+2 plan - apply to Beaver specifically if you want smaller classes and a lower effective bar to entry, then plan your entrance-to-major requirements with an adviser from day one so the transition to University Park (or another campus) for your final two years is seamless, not a scramble senior fall.
Pick One of Beaver's 10 Full Four-Year Degrees If You Don't Want to Transfer
Unlike most Commonwealth campuses, Beaver lets you complete 10 specific bachelor's degrees entirely on-site - if you know your major falls in that list, say so explicitly in your application/interest materials, since it signals you're not just using Beaver as a stepping stone, which can matter for local scholarship consideration.
Send Test Scores If They're Strong, Even Though Test-Optional
Penn State is test-optional through Fall 2026, but Reddit/College Confidential-sourced applicant consensus (echoed by admissions data) is that submitting a strong SAT/ACT still helps, especially at Commonwealth campuses where the applicant pool skews more local and less test-heavy - a strong score differentiates you if you have one.
Expert Insight:
Students sometimes assume "entrance to major" is a formality - it isn't. Getting into Penn State as an institution is not the same as getting into a competitive major like engineering or nursing, and Commonwealth campus students transitioning via 2+2 must still meet the same entrance-to-major GPA/course benchmarks as University Park students, so a weak first-year GPA at Beaver can block the intended major transfer even after "getting in."
Penn State Profile
Full Name
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver (Penn State)
City
Monaca
State
Pennsylvania
ZIP Code
15061-2764
Type
Public
Campus
Branch Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)
Is a Penn State Degree Worth It?
At $27,587/year against a $63,435 median graduate salary, Penn State is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation. The numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $63,400, and graduates see a 3.15% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from Penn State Cost?
Listed tuition runs $27,587/year at Penn State. Factor in Pell and federal grant aid, and most students land closer to $18,657.
At Penn State, 33.5% receive a Pell Grant and 57.9% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming Penn State on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a Penn State Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, Penn State graduates report a median income of $63,435, 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 Beaver. 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 |
| 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 |
| University of Hawaii at Manoa | Honolulu, HI | 1157 | 24 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver. 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 Beaver. 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 Arizona | Tucson, AZ | 1261 | 26 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | Prescott, AZ | 1256 | 27 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | 1222 | 26 |
| Biola University | La Mirada, CA | 1258 | 27 |
Degree Programs at Penn State
Bachelor Degree Programs
Associate Degree Programs
UG Certificate or Diploma Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Penn State Admissions
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver graduates earn a moderate median salary of $63,435/year, with some variation by field.
Tuition at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver is relatively affordable, around $27,587/year.
33.5% of Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver students get a Pell Grant. Your odds depend mostly on household income, and filing FAFSA early still helps maximize what you're offered.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver's acceptance rate is 92.2%, comparatively higher than most selective universities. Admission is more attainable here.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1191, and within the 1050–1320 range, keeps you competitive.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver's deadline is November 1, with decisions out by December 24. Rolling Admissions applies too, so earlier is always better.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver charges an application fee of 65; ask admissions about waiver eligibility if cost is a barrier.
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before November 1, 2026. That's Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver's scholarship priority date.
Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.
The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out, plus a solid test score where the school considers one.
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