Administration

      Penn State implements Early Action admissions deadlines

      Students applying for the 2019-2020 school year have the opportunity to learn the details of the aid package even earlier. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

      UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — To allow potential students more time to make an informed college decision, Penn State has moved up its dates for the admissions process. New application deadlines also mean earlier notice of aid awards packages.

      The new deadline changes will affect potential first-year students who will start in the 2019-2020 school year. Students who will start during the upcoming 2018-2019 school year won’t be affected by the change in dates.

      The new dates and deadlines are:

      • Aug. 1, 2018 - Applications for undergraduate admission become available
      • Oct. 1, 2018 - Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) becomes available
      • Nov. 1, 2018 - Penn State's new Early Action filing deadline
      • Nov. 1, 2018 -Schreyer Honors College priority filing date
      • Nov. 30, 2018 - Application priority filing date for students not selecting Early Action
      • Dec. 1, 2018 - FAFSA recommended filing date
      • Dec. 24, 2018 - Early Action applicants will receive their decision (admit, defer, deny)
      • Mid-February 2019 - Early awarding of student aid begins for applicants in Early Action
      • May 1, 2019 - National Decision Day (enrollment deposits are due)

      For more information on deadlines and the admissions process, visit the Admissions website and find answers to frequently asked questions. Information on student aid can be found at studentaid.psu.edu.

      Early action applications will be accepted at all of the 20 undergraduate campuses, but not the World Campus.

      Some programs are not eligible for early action decisions. They are premedical-medical (PMM), music, theatre, musical theatre, acting, dance, and golf management.

      An Early Action request does not bind a student in any way, unlike Early Decision. Early Action students still have until May 1 to make their choice.

      Early Action was implemented through a joint effort of Undergraduate Education, Student Aid, and Admissions.

      Penn State Undergraduate Education is the academic administrative unit that provides leadership and coordination for University-wide programs and initiatives in support of undergraduate teaching and learning at Penn State. Learn more about Undergraduate Education at undergrad.psu.edu.

      Last Updated March 20, 2018

      Tags