Important Undergraduate Application Instructions

Sign Up

To begin the online application, you will need a MyPennState profile.

Please note: Former Penn State students may not need to complete the application for admission. Refer to the Registrar's website for details about returning to Penn State.

Online Application

The application consists of six sections:

  1. Application Setup
  2. Program of Study
  3. Citizenship and Residency
  4. Academics and Experience
  5. Miscellaneous
  6. Review and Submit

Application Setup

  • Be sure to select "Online" for the "How would you like to complete your degree" question if you plan to attend Penn State World Campus.
  • The rest of this section will ask some basic questions about your education experience and military affiliation.

Program of Study

  • You will choose the degree type and then the starting semester.
  • Your starting campus will be selected as Penn State World Campus by default as long as you picked "Online" in your Application Setup. Click Continue.
  • On the Choose a program page, select your intended major from this list.
  • Review your selection on the summary screen and click Continue to move on to the Citizenship and Residency section.

Citizenship and Residency

  • Complete the series of questions about your citizenship status, demographic information, Pennsylvania residency status, and family history.

Academics and Experience

  • You will need to enter academic experience information about your high school and any attempted courses at a college or university after high school.
  • The Education Gap Statement offers a place to explain any time that has elapsed between your high school graduation and your anticipated enrollment at Penn State. Please provide a summary of why that gap occurred. Some examples that would explain a gap in your education may include work, family, attending another college or university, etc.

Miscellaneous

  • In the Miscellaneous section, you will provide any program-specific requirements (e.g., a personal statement), information about activities, and financial aid information.

Review and Submit

  • Review your information, digitally sign your application, and provide payment for the application fee ($65 domestic or $75 international).

High School Transcripts and Academic Record

  • After your application is completed, you will also need to self-report your high school course work before the application deadline. You will be directed to fill out the Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR). It is helpful to have a high school transcript available when completing this section. In the third section, you'll select your program of study and campus.
  • Official high school transcripts or GED transcript, along with records from high school, are required, regardless of the length of time that has passed. Include any college/university transcripts (required), military transcripts, and Proof of English Language proficiency (if applicable). SAT/ACT scores are not required if you are identified as an adult learner or transfer student.

All official documents should be sent to:

Undergraduate Admissions Office
The Pennsylvania State University
201 Shields Building
University Park, PA 16802

You can also have your transcripts sent electronically through Parchment, eScript-Safe, or the National Clearinghouse directly to Penn State from the college/university where course work was attempted.

Acceptance

After receiving your application, application fee, and all required materials, your application will be evaluated for admissions. You can check your application status online. This will provide the most up‐to‐date information about the status of your application and is updated once daily, before 8:00 a.m. (ET). Once a decision has been made regarding your application, it will be available to you through the MyPennState portal.

For information on when you can expect an admissions decision, visit the Dates and Deadlines page of the Undergraduate Admissions website. Make sure you hit the "+" sign to see these dates for World Campus Applicants (First-Year and Transfer).

Need help?

Contact our admissions team, and we can assist you.

Chat with an Admissions Counselor

Chat with an Admissions Counselor

Recaptcha

or Chat