For admission to the Graduate School, an applicant must hold either (1) a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or (2) a tertiary (postsecondary) degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. This degree must be from an officially recognized degree-granting institution in the country in which it operates.

There is a minimum undergraduate GPA requirement of 3.0.

The math prerequisite for this program is a standard three-course calculus sequence (for example, MATH 140, MATH 141, and MATH 230) and knowledge of matrix and linear algebra.

Transfer Credit
 

You may transfer up to 10 graduate credits from another accredited program into the degree program, with approval.

Application Materials

A nonrefundable application fee

Statement of purpose describing your motivation for undertaking graduate studies in statistics 

Letters of Recommendation — Contact information for three persons who are familiar with the applicant's qualifications to study graduate statistics. They will be contacted to provide letters of recommendation. 

Verbal, quantitative, and analytical scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test (Institution Code: 2660 and Department Code: 0705). Computer-based test scores are acceptable, and will be considered along with the other application material. A subject test in the GRE is not required. 

English Proficiency — The language of instruction at Penn State is English. All international applicants must take and submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS), with some exceptions. Minimum test scores and exceptions are found in the English Proficiency section on the Graduate School "How to Apply" page.

Two official transcripts from each institution attended. Transcripts not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation. Mail transcripts to:

Marina Tempelman
The Pennsylvania State University
Department of Statistics
323B Thomas Building
University Park PA 16802

When all materials have been received, we will notify you about your status and provide guidance about the next steps in becoming a Penn State student.

How to Apply
 

Individuals seeking admission to this program must complete and submit the Penn State Graduate School online application. Be sure to read the admissions requirements carefully, as each program has unique requirements.

Applying as a Nondegree Graduate Student
 

To begin taking courses right away, apply as a "nondegree" graduate student. You may take up to 15 credits in nondegree status before submitting your application portfolio.

Note: If you apply as a nondegree graduate student, you must re-apply to the master's degree to be considered for admission into the Master of Applied Statistics program degree program.

To apply as a nondegree graduate student:

1. Read the admissions requirements
2. Begin the application process