Frequently Asked Questions

The degree and certificate application fee is $65 U.S. The nondegree application is $30 U.S.

The international application fee increased from $65 to $85 for anyone applying for spring 2025 admission or later.

Veterans and Military Service Members receive a discounted rate of $40 on their degree application fee. This represents more than a 35% decrease from the standard $65 degree application fee.

The Graduate School accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover Card, American Express, checks, and money orders. Checks or money orders must be payable to “The Pennsylvania State University” in U.S. dollars, and must be drawn from a U.S. bank.

A debit card may be used only if it is processed as a credit card payment (without the PIN). Credit card gift cards are also acceptable.

Yes, you, another individual, or a company or organization may pay the application fee by credit card via the Graduate School Payment Portal, or by check/money order using the Application Fee Form.

Yes, you or another individual may pay the application fee by credit card via the Graduate School Payment Portal, or by check/money order using the Application Fee Form. After this payment is made, your application will be reviewed.

In certain situations, an applicant may be granted a fee waiver. If this is the case, you will be given instructions by your graduate program or another Penn State office for how to complete this as part of the application.

Yes, you will need pay the fee for each graduate program application you submit.

IMPORTANT: You may only apply to one degree program at a time. If you submit additional degree applications, only your most recently submitted degree application will be reviewed.

No, application fees are nonrefundable.

Fees are processed as soon as the payment is received.

IMPORTANT: The application fee is processed immediately; however, your application status may not be available during the first 24 hours.

This may happen if you hit the credit card payment button more than once while waiting for the fee payment to be processed. Check your credit card statement for duplicate payments. Typically, one transaction is only a hold and will resolve within seven to ten business days. If both transactions still appear on your account, please contact gswww@psu.edu.

When your application is submitted, you will get a confirmation email. You may also log in to the application and check your status page for confirmation, or contact your intended graduate program.

Check the Status page of your Graduate School Application to see which documents have been received and which have been reviewed.

Each graduate program has its own application review process, deadlines, and timeframe. Please check your intended program’s website for more information.

You will receive an email when a decision has been made about your application. If you do not hear back, please contact your intended graduate program, as each plan has its own admission deadlines and processes. You can find contact information by searching for your program on the Graduate Bulletin.

On the Status page of your application. If you do not see the status there, you should contact your intended graduate program. You can find contact information by searching for your program on the Graduate Bulletin.

No. If required, English proficiency scores (TOEFL or IELTS) must be submitted prior to being offered admission. Please note that specific graduate programs may require all international applicants to submit a TOEFL or IELTS score, regardless of their academic background and country of origin, and may have more stringent requirements.

View Minimum Acceptable Test Scores

Graduate programs set and enforce deadlines. Please check with your intended graduate program. You can find contact information by searching for your program on the Graduate Bulletin.

International applicants must submit materials at least four months prior to the semester they plan to enroll; however, the application deadline for some graduate programs is much earlier than this. All applicants should consult their intended graduate programs for specific requirements.

All students, including transfer students, have the same requirements for admission. They are required to submit Penn State’s Graduate School application, pay the application fee, and submit official copies of their academic transcripts.

If you are currently enrolled as doctoral student at another institution, please be aware that you will need to meet Penn State’s doctoral degree requirements, even if you already met some of these at your current institution.

These requirements include:

• residency
• passing of a qualifying, comprehensive, and final oral examination
• writing a satisfactory dissertation that is approved by both the doctoral committee and the Graduate School

Visit Penn State Account Management. Once updated on the Account Management site, your information will later shortly after in the Graduate School application system.

Email your adjusted information to gradschoolapp@psu.edu.

You will need to complete a new graduate online application, pay the required application fee, and provide the required program documents. If you are reapplying to the same program, please contact your intended graduate program to determine if updated documents are necessary. You can find contact information by searching for your program on the Graduate Bulletin.

You can find the Penn State's academic calendar on the University Registrar’s website.

Your intended graduate program will recommend your acceptance to the Graduate School. After final review by the Graduate School, you will receive formal notification of your admission. Questions concerning your admission or denial should be directed to your intended graduate program. You can find contact information by searching for your program on the Graduate Bulletin.

Yes, you may be contacted by either your intended graduate program or the Graduate School. Each graduate program has its own procedures for evaluating applications, and the Graduate School ensures that all applicants meet Penn State’s minimum requirements for all graduate programs.

Please contact your intended program of study for information on whether reference letters can be sent directly to the program.

If the intended graduate program has elected to use the online reference features, your referees will be notified via email upon submission of your graduate application.

If the intended graduate program does not to use the online reference features, you will need to contact your references.

You can find contact information by searching for your program on the Graduate Bulletin.

Please refer to your intended graduate program website for more information on reference requirements. You can find contact information by searching for your program on the Graduate Bulletin.

GRE and TOEFL: Use school code 2660 to send scores to Penn State.

IELTS: Select "Pennsylvania State University, University Park."

MAT: Select "Penn State University" or use school code 2609.

GMAT: Select “Penn State University- University Park,” and, if prompted, select your graduate program and graduate program location.

Leave the test scores section blank and enter a statement in the comment section of the application stating which test you will be taking and when you plan to take it.

Please contact your intended graduate program with this information. You can find contact information by searching for your program on the Graduate Bulletin.

Official scores must be sent directly to Penn State from the appropriate reporting agency (ETS, Pearson Vue, etc.).

All questions regarding test scores should be directed to your intended graduate program. You can find contact information by searching for your program on the Graduate Bulletin.

This varies depending on the test type (GRE, TOEFL, etc.). Please refer to the testing agency’s website to find out when your scores will be or were reported. It may take up to a month for your scores to be received at Penn State.

Check the status page of your application to confirm whether test scores are received.

No. Only Penn State’s institutional TOEFL is acceptable.

The language of instruction at Penn State is English. All international applicants must take and submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), with the exceptions noted on the preparing to apply page.

All questions regarding the GRE should be directed to your intended graduate program. You can find contact information by searching for your program on the Graduate Bulletin.

An official transcript must meet three criteria:

1. It is received from the applicant in an envelope sealed by the issuing institution, or comes directly from the issuing institution via postal mail, electronic mail, or a trusted third party vendor.
2. It bears the institutional seal.
3. It bears the official signature of the institution’s registrar (or recorder of records).

An unofficial transcript is a copy of an official transcript. Examples of documents that are not acceptable as an official transcript include:

• Advising transcripts
• Degree audit from a self-service website
• A copy of a transcript(s) that is prepared and signed by a faculty member, city or government official, or notary public

Your international records will be considered complete and official if:

• each document is an original or an attested copy that is certified by the issuing institution;
• it is a comprehensive record of all study completed, in the form of a transcript or yearly marksheets;
• it includes all degree certificates conferred;
• each document is submitted with an officially certified English translation.

The University reserves the right to request official credentials or additional supporting documentation at any time during the admission process as deemed necessary.

You can check your status of your application, including receipt of references, documents and test scores, by logging into your existing account in the Graduate School application. Once there, you will find a hyperlink labeled “status” that will allow you access this information.

Yes, if you are applying to a degree program, you are required to upload copies of official transcripts/records/degree certificates from all institutions attended. All transcripts and academic records uploaded to the application are then considered “unofficial” and will be used for application purposes only.