Admissions
02-00
Classification of Undergraduate Student
You, as a student, are classified based on your potential degree, the number of credits you have completed, the GPA you have achieved, your grade point deficiency, and the number of requirements you have fulfilled.
To maintain financial aid eligibility, you must complete 26 credits each year and earn a grade of a “D” or better in each class.
Here's the original policy.
To maintain financial aid eligibility, you must complete 26 credits each year and earn a grade of a “D” or better in each class.
Here's the original policy.
05-00
Associate and Baccalaureate Degree Candidates
First-year admissions will be granted to an applicant who holds a high school diploma and who has taken fewer than 18 credits at an accredited college or university.
A baccalaureate or associate degree candidate will be admitted into either a college, a major within a college, or the Division of Undergraduate Studies.
Entrance Requirements for Admissions: Graduation from an accredited secondary school. Completion of the required units* of preparatory work as indicated below.
A baccalaureate or associate degree candidate will be admitted into either a college, a major within a college, or the Division of Undergraduate Studies.
Entrance Requirements for Admissions: Graduation from an accredited secondary school. Completion of the required units* of preparatory work as indicated below.
*Per the Carnegie Foundation, a unit represents a year of work in a subject in a secondary school, provided that the work done in that subject is approximately one-fourth of the total amount of work regularly required in a year in the school.
*However, a student may
be admitted with fewer than two units in a world language other than English,
but must correct this deficiency by the time he/she earns 60 credits or
graduates from Penn State, whichever comes first.
** Five units in any combination of world language, social studies, arts, and humanities are required.
** Five units in any combination of world language, social studies, arts, and humanities are required.
06-20
Articulation Agreements
An articulation agreement is a contract between Penn State and any other degree-granting institution(s) that makes it easier for you to transfer credit or degrees. The purpose of an articulation agreement is to:
1. Show you how specific classes, grades, and degree requirements at other institutions compare to Penn State’s
2. Make it easier for you to transfer to Penn State
3. Make it easier for you to take classes at other colleges
In addition, if you are an international student, articulation agreements address your legal, language proficiency, and safety rights as a student.
Agreements must be reviewed at least every five years, and the college or university is responsible for submitting a report to ARSSA, the Senate Committee on Admissions, Records, Scheduling, and Student Aid. A record of all articulation agreements will be kept for you to see.
Visit the online interactive Transfer Course Evaluation Guide here.
Here's the original policy.
1. Show you how specific classes, grades, and degree requirements at other institutions compare to Penn State’s
2. Make it easier for you to transfer to Penn State
3. Make it easier for you to take classes at other colleges
In addition, if you are an international student, articulation agreements address your legal, language proficiency, and safety rights as a student.
Agreements must be reviewed at least every five years, and the college or university is responsible for submitting a report to ARSSA, the Senate Committee on Admissions, Records, Scheduling, and Student Aid. A record of all articulation agreements will be kept for you to see.
Visit the online interactive Transfer Course Evaluation Guide here.
Here's the original policy.
10-00
Provisional Students
If you have a high school diploma or GED but do not fulfill the requirements for admission to Penn State, you may be allowed to enroll as a provisional student.
This could happen if, for example, you did not take the proper courses (or "Carnegie Units" mentioned in Policy 05-00) in high school, are an adult student, or for a variety of other reasons. Not to worry! The purpose of this policy is to allow you to still attend even if you miss a requirement or two on a technicality, not to keep you away.
As a provisional student, you may apply to be a degree-seeking student once you have earned 18 credits.
Here's the original policy.
This could happen if, for example, you did not take the proper courses (or "Carnegie Units" mentioned in Policy 05-00) in high school, are an adult student, or for a variety of other reasons. Not to worry! The purpose of this policy is to allow you to still attend even if you miss a requirement or two on a technicality, not to keep you away.
As a provisional student, you may apply to be a degree-seeking student once you have earned 18 credits.
Here's the original policy.
14-00
Nondegree Student Classification and Course Enrollment
There are two types of nondegree students: nondegree-regular students and nondegree-conditional students.
A nondegree-regular student is a person who has received a high school diploma or its equivalent. There are no specific enrollment limitations associated with this student status. To enroll as a nondegree student, complete an Undergraduate Nondegree Enrollment Form and return the form to the Registrar's office at the campus you plan to attend.
A nondegree-conditional student is any student who has been dropped from degree or provisional status by Penn State or any other college or university because of unsatisfactory scholarship. These students may register for a maximum of 12 credits per semester, but are required to obtain academic advising before registering. Nondegree-conditional students are not eligible for financial aid, housing in the residence halls might be unavailable, and other privileges may be restricted. Nondegree-conditional students are limited to a maximum of 10 credits of late drop, including any drop credits previously used.
The following conditions must be applied to all nondegee students both regular and conditional:
Students whose cumulative grade point average are below 2.00 and have reached the 40-credit limit, are not eligible for a degree program they can only resume taking credit courses by reentering the University through the academic renewal process.
Here's the original policy.
A nondegree-regular student is a person who has received a high school diploma or its equivalent. There are no specific enrollment limitations associated with this student status. To enroll as a nondegree student, complete an Undergraduate Nondegree Enrollment Form and return the form to the Registrar's office at the campus you plan to attend.
A nondegree-conditional student is any student who has been dropped from degree or provisional status by Penn State or any other college or university because of unsatisfactory scholarship. These students may register for a maximum of 12 credits per semester, but are required to obtain academic advising before registering. Nondegree-conditional students are not eligible for financial aid, housing in the residence halls might be unavailable, and other privileges may be restricted. Nondegree-conditional students are limited to a maximum of 10 credits of late drop, including any drop credits previously used.
The following conditions must be applied to all nondegee students both regular and conditional:
- Register on a space available basis
- Enrollment as a nondegree student does not imply admission to the university
- Limited to a maximum of 40 credits while in this status
- Must complete the prerequisites for the courses to be scheduled or has obtained permission from the instructor to schedule the course
- Must be admitted, or reinstated and re-enrolled, as a degree candidate to apply the credits earned as a nondegree student toward fulfilling the requirements for a degree
Students whose cumulative grade point average are below 2.00 and have reached the 40-credit limit, are not eligible for a degree program they can only resume taking credit courses by reentering the University through the academic renewal process.
Here's the original policy.
16-00
Degree Candidate or Provisional Student to Non-degree Student
You can become a nondegree student by:
1. Withdrawing from degree candidacy
2. Being dropped from degree candidacy due to poor grades
To again obtain degree candidacy, you must apply for re-enrollment in accordance with pertinent procedures.
Here's the original policy.
1. Withdrawing from degree candidacy
2. Being dropped from degree candidacy due to poor grades
To again obtain degree candidacy, you must apply for re-enrollment in accordance with pertinent procedures.
Here's the original policy.
18-00
Admission of Nondegree Student as Degree Candidate
Baccalaureate Degree Candidate requirements include:
An applicant who has completed at least the equivalent of two years of baccalaureate degree work before applying for admission as a baccalaureate degree candidate must have the approval of either the dean of the college in which enrollment is desired or of the director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies.
Here's the original policy.
- Completing at least 18 baccalaureate credits with a minimum grade-point average of 2.00 as a nondegree student
- Having all credits earned at Penn State
- Meeting the entrance requirements (Carnegie Units) of either the college of enrollment or of the Division of Undergraduate Studies
An applicant who has completed at least the equivalent of two years of baccalaureate degree work before applying for admission as a baccalaureate degree candidate must have the approval of either the dean of the college in which enrollment is desired or of the director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies.
Here's the original policy.