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Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Greater Allegheny

#1488 in US ranking McKeesport, PA
Type:
Public
Programs:
4 years or more

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Cost

Cost / year
$25,082
Tuition & fees
$14,440
Avg. aid
$11,736
Receiving aid
94%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
96%
SAT range
1080–1280

Outcomes

Graduation rate
19%
Median salary
$57,191
1 yr after graduation

What is the accreditation of Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Greater Allegheny?

Pennsylvania State University is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Greater Allegheny operates as a Penn State campus, rather than as a separately accredited university.

Institutional accreditation evaluates the university as a whole and is relevant to eligibility for federal student aid. It does not guarantee that another college will accept every Penn State course for transfer, or that a particular degree satisfies a profession's licensing rules. Some fields have separate programmatic accreditation requirements; students considering a licensed profession should check the accreditation and state licensing requirements of their specific program, not rely on institutional accreditation alone.

What are the admission requirements at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Greater Allegheny?

First-year applicants generally apply to Penn State, select Greater Allegheny as a campus choice, and submit a secondary-school record showing graduation or an accepted equivalent. Penn State reviews academic preparation; high school GPA and the school record are part of the reported requirements.

SAT and ACT scores have been considered but not required in the reported admissions information. Applicants should check the testing policy for their entry term and program before deciding whether to submit scores. Recommendations, class rank, and a formal demonstration of competencies are not listed as general requirements. Applicants educated outside the United States may also need to document English-language proficiency under Penn State's international admissions rules.

In the reported first-year admissions cycle, Greater Allegheny admitted 519 of 538 applicants, an acceptance rate of about 96%. That figure describes a past applicant pool, not a guarantee of admission or eligibility for a particular major. Penn State's application calendar and review process can differ by term and applicant category, so applicants should check the deadline applicable to their intended start date.

What are the application fees and waivers at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Greater Allegheny?

The reported standard application fee for Penn State is $65. This is an admissions charge, not tuition or a payment that reserves a place in a class.

Penn State provides application-fee waiver routes for eligible applicants, including students with documented financial need. Because the method for requesting a waiver can depend on the application and applicant category, a student who may qualify should follow the waiver instructions in the application or ask undergraduate admissions before paying and submitting. Applicants should also confirm the charge shown for their own application; a fee reported for first-year admission should not be assumed to cover every graduate or special application.

What types of ROTC programs are available at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Greater Allegheny?

Army and Air Force ROTC opportunities have been reported for Greater Allegheny students through cooperating institutions, rather than units based on the McKeesport campus. Participation therefore requires more planning than simply registering for an on-campus class.

Students should confirm the current host institution, cross-enrollment permission, travel schedule, and which ROTC courses can count toward their Penn State degree before applying. ROTC scholarships have separate selection rules; taking an ROTC course does not itself guarantee a scholarship. Some ROTC participation paths also lead to a military service obligation, so applicants should review the terms with the relevant ROTC unit.

What are the requirements for transfer students at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Greater Allegheny?

Penn State Greater Allegheny considers transfer applicants, and reported entry options include fall, spring, and summer. Applicants ordinarily submit records from every college they have attended; Penn State determines both admission and how completed coursework applies to a degree.

Acceptance of a course for transfer is different from acceptance of that course toward a particular major. Penn State generally considers credit from accredited institutions and reports that it accepts certain examination-based and evaluated learning credits, including CLEP, DSST, and ACE recommendations. Subject-specific rules, grades, credit limits, and degree requirements still govern whether an individual award counts.

Transfer applicants should check Penn State's current credit and GPA eligibility rules for their applicant category and request an official credit evaluation. Before enrolling, compare that evaluation with a degree audit for the intended major - especially if the plan involves completing the degree at another Penn State campus.

What types of study abroad programs are available at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Greater Allegheny?

Greater Allegheny students can explore international study through Penn State's university-wide education-abroad system. Options across the university include programs of different lengths, but eligibility, available courses, and application procedures vary by program.

A student should meet with academic and education-abroad advisers before applying to establish how overseas coursework would satisfy the degree plan. That step is particularly important for a tightly sequenced major or a student planning a campus change. Program charges, travel expenses, scholarships, and the treatment of existing financial aid also need to be checked for the specific program; a Penn State affiliation does not make every overseas option financially or academically interchangeable.

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Greater Allegheny Admissions Factors

SAT range
1080–1280
4001600
Acceptance rate
96%

Acceptance rate vs. median

This school
96%
Pennsylvania
81%
US
78%

19% of admitted students enrolled (101 of 519)

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Greater Allegheny Admissions

Applicants
Total: 538
Admission
Total: 519
Enrolled
Total: 101
Women
Men

How to Apply to Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Greater Allegheny

Application fee

$65

Early Decision

No

Early Action

Yes, deadline November 1

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Greater Allegheny First-Year Students

Where first-year students come from

In-state: 81
Out-of-state: 18
International: 1

Freshmen vs. transfer students

Freshmen: 100
Transfer: 23

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Greater Allegheny Admission Requirements

Percent of students submitting ACT scores

2.94%

Percent of students submitting SAT scores

14.71%

High school completions

General Educational Development (GED) required

Computer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution

Yes

Secondary school GPA

Required

Secondary school rank

Neither required nor recommended

Secondary school record

Required

Completion of college-preparatory program

Considered but not required

Recommendations

Neither required nor recommended

Formal demonstration of competencies

Neither required nor recommended

Admission test scores

Considered but not required

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language

Required

Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)

Neither required nor recommended

Open admission policy

No

Dual credit

No

Credit for life experiences

Yes

Advanced placement (AP) credits

Yes

Special learning opportunities

Orientation program

Yes

ROTC-Army

ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institution

ROTC-Air Force

ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institution

Study abroad

Yes

Student can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization

No

Preparation at another institution required

No

Approved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher

No

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Greater Allegheny Transfer Acceptance Rate

Generally accepts credits

Yes

Accept ACE recommendation for credit

Yes

Possible transfer

Fall, Spring, Summer

Data last updated on November 2, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.