What GPA Do You Need
To Get Into Penn State University?
Understanding the true academic expectations for admission to Penn State University, including average admitted GPAs and competitive benchmarks.
Average Admitted GPA
At Penn State University, the middle 50% of admitted freshmen typically hold a high school GPA around . To maximize your chances of acceptance, you should aim to exceed this benchmark with a rigorous course load.
Minimum Transfer GPA
Transfer requirements for Penn State University vary heavily by your intended major and previous institution.
Academic Context
Penn State uses a 4.0 scale with plus/minus grades (A- = 3.67). Note that Penn State does not award an A+ grade, nor do they award a C- or D+. A 3.5+ GPA is generally required to enter the highly respected Smeal College of Business.
Grading Scale Notes
Penn State University uses a 4.0 grading scale. They DO use plus/minus grades (+/-) when calculating your college GPA.
Calculate Your Odds
Use our Target GPA Calculator to figure out exactly what grades you need in high school to reach Penn State University's average.