Public Universities in Pennsylvania, Ranked by Acceptance Rate
Pennsylvania has 18 public universities in the CollegeCalcAI database. The most selective is Penn State University at 55%; the most accessible is Pitt-Johnstown at 95%, and the median public university in the state admits 91%. 2 of them post an admitted-student SAT (75th percentile) of 1300 or higher. In-state tuition usually makes these the best-value options on a Pennsylvania student's list, so it pays to know exactly where each one sits.
- Penn State University55%acceptanceModerately selectivePA · SAT 1370
- University of Pittsburgh58%acceptanceModerately selectivePA · SAT 1400
- Lincoln University (PA)66%acceptanceModerately selectivePA · SAT 1120
- Slippery Rock University71%acceptanceModerately selectivePA · SAT 1130
- West Chester University78%acceptanceAccessiblePA · SAT 1220
- Temple University80%acceptanceAccessiblePA · SAT 1250
- Millersville University86%acceptanceAccessiblePA · SAT 1130
- Shippensburg University87%acceptanceAccessiblePA · SAT 1100
- Indiana U of Pennsylvania91%acceptanceAccessiblePA · SAT 1120
- Kutztown University91%acceptanceAccessiblePA · SAT 1100
- East Stroudsburg University92%acceptanceAccessiblePA · SAT 1070
- Commonwealth U Bloomsburg93%acceptanceAccessiblePA · SAT 1120
- Commonwealth U Lock Haven93%acceptanceAccessiblePA · SAT 1120
- Commonwealth U Mansfield93%acceptanceAccessiblePA · SAT 1120
- California University of PA94%acceptanceAccessiblePA · SAT 1120
- Clarion University94%acceptanceAccessiblePA · SAT 1120
- Edinboro University94%acceptanceAccessiblePA · SAT 1120
- Pitt-Johnstown95%acceptanceAccessiblePA · SAT 1120
Your chances at these colleges
Estimated chance of admission for three typical students, from the same model as the calculator. Unweighted GPA; 2, 4 and 7 AP courses respectively; Regular Decision; no legacy, athletic or first-generation hook.
Which of the Public Universities in Pennsylvania can I get into with a 3.7 GPA and a 1300 SAT?
By CollegeCalcAI's model, a student with a 3.7 unweighted GPA and a 1300 SAT has a Likely or Safety estimate (45% or higher) at 15 of the 15 colleges here, including Penn State University, University of Pittsburgh and Lincoln University (PA). Estimates assume Regular Decision and no hook; courses, activities and essays move them.
Estimates, not guarantees. Get yours with your real courses and activities or compare your own list with the free admissions API.
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CollegeCalcAI. "Public Universities in Pennsylvania, Ranked by Acceptance Rate." 2026. https://collegecalcai.com/data/public-universities-in-pennsylvania
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<a href="https://collegecalcai.com/data/public-universities-in-pennsylvania?utm_source=embed&utm_medium=statcard" style="display:inline-block;padding:16px 20px;border:1px solid #E5E9F0;border-radius:14px;text-decoration:none;font-family:system-ui,sans-serif;background:#fff"><span style="display:block;font-size:30px;font-weight:800;color:#0F766E;line-height:1">91%</span><span style="display:block;margin-top:6px;font-size:13px;color:#475569">median acceptance rate, public universities in pennsylvania, ranked by acceptance rate (18 schools)</span><span style="display:block;margin-top:8px;font-size:11px;color:#94A3B8">Source: CollegeCalcAI</span></a>
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Acceptance rates and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets) and are rounded. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.