🦁Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA, US

Home to one of the US's top Meteorology programmes, founded by the man behind AccuWeather.

About Penn State

Penn State's Meteorology programme is one of the most respected in the US — AccuWeather was founded by a Penn State professor and remains headquartered near campus. The university is also one of the largest in the country, with a famously extensive alumni network across Engineering, Business and Communications.

Why students choose it

  • One of the US's top Meteorology programmes, birthplace of AccuWeather
  • One of the largest, most connected alumni networks in the US
  • Strong Engineering, Business and Communications programmes

🎓 Free application support for Penn State

Submit a free enquiry and Tutopiya's admissions team will guide you through your application to Penn State — personal statement, interview prep and deadlines — at no cost, no obligation. Application fees are typically waived through our university partnerships.

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Typical entry grades

ABB (A Level)  ·  IB 32

Solid tier · indicative for the flagship courses below — always verify per-course requirements directly with the university.

Tuition (international, per year)

$45,000–$60,000/yr

high tier for US — figures are typical ranges, not this specific university's published fee.

Language of instruction

English

Campus

campus campus, University Park, PA

🏆 Scholarships to look into

Informational only — scholarship amounts, deadlines and even which schemes are running change often (sometimes per intake), so treat this as a starting point, not a guarantee. Always confirm current details directly with the scholarship provider or Penn State's financial aid office.

Scholarship access for international students is more limited than for US citizens — most need-based financial aid programmes are domestic-only, and only a small number of universities are 'need-blind' or meet full demonstrated need for international applicants. Merit scholarships (not tied to financial need) are more widely available and are the main route for most applicants.

  • University merit scholarships: Named awards like 'Presidential' or 'Dean's' scholarships at many universities — automatically considered from your application, based on academic record and sometimes essays/interviews.
  • Need-blind / full-need-met universities: A small group of highly selective universities (e.g. Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Yale, Amherst) admit international students without considering ability to pay and meet full demonstrated financial need — extremely competitive to gain admission in the first place.
  • Fulbright Program: US government-funded, but for postgraduate/research study and exchange, not linked to undergraduate admission.

Most US universities in this tool are private and do not offer significant need-based aid to international students — check each university's own international financial aid policy before assuming support is available.

Want help figuring out which of these you'd actually qualify for? Talk to a free Tutopiya counsellor.

Popular courses

Engineering

⏱️ Typical duration: Often 4 years rather than the country's standard Bachelor's length, especially where the programme includes an integrated Master's (e.g. UK MEng) or an industry placement year

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Typical entry: Requires Mathematics + Physics

Business

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

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Typical entry: Mathematics helps but usually isn't required recommended

Meteorology

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

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Communications

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

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Agricultural Sciences

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

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Durations are typical for US — always confirm the exact length (including any placement or integrated Master's year) on the course's own page before applying.

Not sure which course fits your grades and interests? Run the full shortlist builder →

How to apply

Main intake(s)
September (Fall)
Typical deadline
Regular Decision around 1 January
Note
Early Action / Early Decision rounds close around 1 November for students applying to one top-choice school early.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall

TOEFL: 80–100 iBT

Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test. Many US universities also accept Duolingo English Test.

See where Penn State ranks on your personal shortlist

Enter your grades and budget in the free US University Shortlist Builder to see whether Penn State is a reach, target or safety for you — alongside every other US university that matches.

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More US universities

Penn State FAQ

Quick answers about grades, tuition, deadlines and applying to Penn State as an international IGCSE / A Level / IB student.

What grades do I need to get into Penn State?

As a typical benchmark for international entry, Penn State expects around ABB at A Level or 32 points on the IB Diploma. This is indicative for Penn State's flagship courses — competitive subjects like Medicine and Law usually sit above this baseline, and the exact requirement varies by course, so always confirm the specific figure on Penn State's own admissions page before applying.

How much does Penn State cost for international students?

International tuition at Penn State typically falls in the $45,000–$60,000/yr range (high tier for US). This is a typical range for the university's tuition tier, not Penn State's specific published fee for every course — confirm the exact figure for your intended programme directly with the university.

When is the application deadline for Penn State?

Penn State follows US's typical intake calendar: September (Fall), with applications generally due regular decision around 1 january. Early Action / Early Decision rounds close around 1 November for students applying to one top-choice school early. Always verify the exact date on Penn State's own admissions page, since deadlines can shift year to year.

What IELTS score do I need for Penn State?

US universities, including Penn State, typically ask international applicants for 6.5 overall. Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test. Many US universities also accept Duolingo English Test.

What is Penn State known for?

Home to one of the US's top Meteorology programmes, founded by the man behind AccuWeather. Penn State's Meteorology programme is one of the most respected in the US — AccuWeather was founded by a Penn State professor and remains headquartered near campus. The university is also one of the largest in the country, with a famously extensive alumni network across Engineering, Business and Communications.

Can I apply to Penn State with IGCSE, A Level or IB qualifications?

Yes — Penn State accepts applicants from IGCSE-to-A-Level, IGCSE-to-IB-Diploma, and directly from the IB Diploma. Tutopiya's free US University Shortlist Builder matches your predicted or actual grades against Penn State and every other US university we track, tagging each as reach, target or safety.

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