Penn State World Campus Online Acceptance Rate

Penn State World Campus is the exclusively online campus of the public Pennsylvania State University system. The campus is headquartered in University Park, PA.

The online campus offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate online degree programs and has an acceptance rate of 82%. Keep reading to learn more about Penn State World Campus's acceptance rate and admissions.

What Is the Acceptance Rate at Penn State World Campus?

The acceptance rate at Penn State World Campus is 82%. While this is higher than the national average, it's a little lower than many popular online colleges like Southern New Hampshire University or Western Governors University.

Enrollment at Penn State World Campus is just shy of 14,000 students. About 8,000 of those are undergrads and about 60% study part-time as opposed to full-time.

Penn State World Campus Admissions Requirements

The admissions requirements for Penn State World Campus depend slightly on your program, but in general, are relatively minimal.

All undergraduate programs require students to have graduated with a high school diploma or equivalent, like a GED. They also require:

• a completed application
• high school transcripts
• transcripts from any college completed
• fluency in English

Graduate programs require a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution. Other requirements vary by program but may include:

• references
• resume
• essay
• online interview

There is no minimum high school GPA or college GPA for these programs. Test scores are also not required, but you can submit ACT scores or SAT scores if you like. Applicants must pay a $65 application fee.

How To Apply at Penn State World Campus

The application process at Penn State World Campus depends largely on whether you're earning a graduate or undergraduate degree, but also on your area of study. The university offers three start dates a year, and the application deadline is roughly two months before your intended start date.

Step 1: Create an Account

Before you can apply at Penn State World Campus, you'll need to create a Penn State login account. You can do this from the World Campus website. Once you've created the account, you'll receive a user ID and gain access to the online admissions system. This is the system you'll use to apply.

Step 2: Submit an Application

Now that you have an account, you'll be able to start the application. There are six parts to this application:

• Application Setup: In this section, you'll provide basic information about yourself and select the 'online' option for completing your degree
• Program of Study: Here, you'll choose the type of degree, major, and the semester you plan to start
• Citizenship and Residency: This section covers your citizenship status, residency status, family information, and other demographic information
• Academics and Experience: In this section, you'll fill in information about your high school experience as well as any other college experience you've had
• Miscellaneous: Here, you'll answer any program-specific questions and provide information about extracurricular activities and financial aid
• Review and Submit: Finally, you'll go over your application, sign and submit it, and pay the application fee

Step 3: Send in Your Transcripts

Undergraduate students will need to self-report their high school coursework and send in their official high school transcripts or their GED transcript. Students who have already taken some college courses will need to send those transcripts as well. Military students need to send their military transcripts.

Step 4: Wait to Find Out

Once you've submitted your application, you'll need to wait while it's being processed. You can check your application status through the portal.

Tips for Applying to Penn State World Campus

Penn State World Campus accepts a majority of applicants, but there are still a few things you can do to make your application process run more smoothly and increase your chances of being accepted. These include:

• have your school information prepared
• review the application requirements for your specific program, as some of them have additional requirements
• try to keep your high school GPA up as much as possible
• participate in extracurriculars that will give you good experiences for your application

If you're a graduate student, each program is more likely to have specific admissions requirements, which may include a minimum GPA or work experience.

FAQs About Getting into Penn State World Campus

Below, we've answered some frequently asked questions about getting into Penn State World Campus.

What Is the Cost of Tuition at Penn State World Campus?

Tuition at Penn State World Campus is largely dependent on whether you're an undergraduate or graduate student and if you're studying full-time or part-time. Full-time undergraduate students pay a flat tuition rate of $7,602 per semester for the first 60 credits and $8,206 per semester for the remaining 60 credits.

Part-time students, or students with fewer than 12 credits a semester, are charged per credit. The cost is $626 per credit for the first 60 credits and $671 per credit for the remaining 60. There is no out-of-state tuition for students at Penn State World Campus. Graduate tuition varies by program. Most master's degrees are between $1,000-$2,000 per credit or $12,000-$14,000 per semester if you're taking 12 or more credits.

What Is the Graduation Rate at Penn State World Campus?

The graduation rate at Penn State World Campus is 36%. Graduation rate looks at how many full-time, first-time students graduate within six years with a bachelor's degree or three years with an associate degree.

This metric does not count graduate students, part-time students, or transfer students. As a result, it's not always a great metric to go by. According to College Navigator, only 14% of Penn State World Campus students were able to be counted in the most recent data.

How Do I Apply for Financial Aid at Penn State World Campus?

To apply for financial aid, you'll start by filling out your Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA). The Penn State school code for FAFSA is 003329. Higher education institutions tend to have different rates for in-state and out-of-state students.

However, students who want to take online courses through Penn State World Campus pay the same rates regardless of where they live. This application will tell you what financial aid you qualify for. You can then apply for Penn State World Campus scholarships through the school's website.