Public
Accredited · Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Abington, Pennsylvania
92% Acceptance Rate
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
92%Acceptance Rate
3.42Avg GPA
1179Avg SAT
24Avg ACT
$27,516Annual Cost
$63,435Grad Salary
38.4%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
92%
Avg GPA
3.42
Avg SAT
1179
Avg ACT
24
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
1090–1310
ACT Middle 50%
21–27
Avg Net Price
$17,818
Need-Based Aid
38.4% receive Pell
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington, established in 1950, is a diverse campus offering over 20 bachelor's degrees near Philadelphia. Ranked for social mobility, it provides modern facilities, including a new STEM building and research labs, in a suburban setting.
Abington emphasizes experiential learning, with strong industry connections and internship opportunities, making it a gateway to Penn State's vast resources while fostering individual growth and professional development.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington Acceptance Rate
Admission at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington is inclusive by design. 92% 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% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.42 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.22 – 3.41
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.97
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington 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
⏳ 85 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.
Penn State GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Penn State is 3.42. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 3.12–3.42 range, a high SAT or ACT score still carries real weight.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 3.62–3.82.Penn State GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective, with solid academic performance as the expectation.
Recommended Strategy: A clear, defined strength in one activity or research area matters more than breadth.
This range is a rough map. Where you land determines what else needs to carry weight in your application.:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.42 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.22 – 3.41
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.02 – 3.21
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.01
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Most of Penn State's 275+ majors start at Commonwealth campuses like Abington through the 2+2 Plan, with students later transferring to University Park to finish the degree.
- Early Action deadline for first-year domestic applicants is November 1, with decisions by December 24; applications are reviewed on a rolling basis afterward.
- Penn State is test-optional and, if scores are submitted, uses only the highest single-sitting combined score - it does not superscore across test dates.
- Engineering, nursing, business, and computer science maintain higher admission standards even at Commonwealth campuses, and internal transfer into competitive University Park programs is not automatic.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: Course rigor is read alongside the number itself. A 3.8 with a demanding schedule can beat a 4.0 without one.
- Trajectory Matters: Grades that climb toward graduation tend to matter more than a flat average. The trajectory tells its own story.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Penn State
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington'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
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington (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 Abington Average SAT Score: 1179
Admitted students at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington average a 1179 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1179 — Less Competitive
A 1179 average leaves meaningful room above it for a competitive application.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1310 SAT or 27 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 1090? 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 | 600 | 540 | 660 |
| SAT Reading | 600 | 550 | 650 |
| SAT Composite | 1179 | 1090 | 1310 |
A score under 1090 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1310+ 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 Abington (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 Abington (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 | 19 | 27 |
| ACT Composite | 24 | 21 | 27 |
Can I get into Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington with a 27 ACT?
At 27, 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
Getting into Penn State is the easy part. What matters next is using placement testing, advising, and available resources to set up a strong first year.
Understand you're applying to Penn State, with Abington as your preference
All Penn State campuses share a single application system - listing Abington as your preferred campus is fundamentally an application into the broader Penn State system, with campus placement (not just admission) as the variable schools evaluate. Competitive majors - nursing, engineering, business, computer science - carry higher admission bars even at Abington specifically, so don't treat a Commonwealth campus preference as an automatic softer landing for a competitive major.
Treat the 2+2 Plan as your intended path, not a fallback
Most of Penn State's 275+ majors are structured to start at a Commonwealth campus like Abington and transfer into University Park after strong first-year grades through the "change-of-campus" process. If a direct University Park admission for a competitive major seems unlikely, applying to Abington with the 2+2 Plan in mind is often the intended lower-friction entry point into the same eventual degree - while also paying generally lower Commonwealth-campus tuition for the first two years.
Post one strong single-sitting score - Penn State doesn't superscore
Penn State's test-optional policy accepts self-reported SAT/ACT scores, but uses only the highest single combined score from one test date - it does not combine your best section scores across multiple sittings the way many other schools do. If your subscores are split across different test dates, retake the full exam in one sitting aiming for your best combined result in a single attempt, rather than counting on Penn State to assemble a superscore for you.
Apply to Schreyer specifically and early if that's your target
Abington offers both its own campus-level Abington Honors Program and access to the university-wide Schreyer Honors College, which requires a separate, essay-heavy application - you are not automatically considered for Schreyer through the general Abington application. If Schreyer is the goal, treat it as its own application task with its own timeline; if you want honors coursework without that separate process, the campus-level Abington Honors Program is the lower-friction option.
Expert Insight:
Because Penn State admits into "Penn State" broadly with a campus preference rather than treating each campus as a fully separate school, students sometimes assume admission to Abington guarantees an easy later transfer into a competitive University Park major like nursing or engineering. In reality, those majors maintain higher admission standards even for internal change-of-campus students, and first-year grades at Abington are evaluated competitively against other change-of-campus applicants rather than simply rubber-stamped.
Penn State Profile
Full Name
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington (Penn State)
City
Abington
State
Pennsylvania
ZIP Code
19001-3918
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)
Is a Penn State Degree Worth It?
Whether Penn State is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals. Here's the data to weigh it against.
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 $27,516/year at Penn State. Factor in Pell and federal grant aid, and most students land closer to $17,818.
At Penn State, 38.4% receive a Pell Grant and 48.4% 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 Abington. 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 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, CO | 1140 | 25 |
| Western Colorado University | Gunnison, CO | 1130 | 25 |
| Lynn University | Boca Raton, FL | 1136 | 25 |
| Florida International University | Miami, FL | 1154 | 23 |
| University of West Florida | Pensacola, FL | 1137 | 24 |
| Georgia College & State University | Milledgeville, GA | 1150 | 24 |
| Georgia State University | Atlanta, GA | 1149 | 23 |
| Toccoa Falls College | Toccoa Falls, GA | 1155 | 23 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 1174 | 25 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
| Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 1182 | 25 |
| Savannah College of Art and Design | Savannah, GA | 1178 | 25 |
| Spelman College | Atlanta, GA | 1184 | 24 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington. 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 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | Prescott, AZ | 1256 | 27 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | 1222 | 26 |
| Ouachita Baptist University | Arkadelphia, AR | 1212 | 25 |
Degree Programs at Penn State
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Penn State Admissions
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington graduates earn a moderate median salary of $63,435/year, with some variation by field.
Tuition at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington is relatively affordable, around $27,516/year.
38.4% of Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington 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 Abington's acceptance rate is 92%, comparatively higher than most selective universities. Admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington students is 3.42, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.12 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 3.02 or below makes admission tougher at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington, but strong test scores, activities, and essays, plus AP/IB coursework, can still keep you in contention.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1179, and within the 1090–1310 range, keeps you competitive.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington'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 Abington 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 Abington'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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