UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State’s test-optional admissions program is being extended for two additional years for undergraduate admissions applicants. Prospective undergraduates will be able to apply to Penn State with or without submitting SAT or ACT scores through the fall 2025 semester.
Test-optional admission was first implemented in June 2020 in response to limited availability of SAT and ACT tests during the COVID-19 pandemic's initial months. Originally intended as a one-year response, Penn State extended the program in January 2021 as the pandemic’s impact on high school learning and test availability increased. Since its introduction, more than half of Penn State’s undergraduate applicants have applied without using their SAT or ACT scores.
“One intent of an extension is to continue the standardized testing relief to students. There was already anxiety about tests before the pandemic. COVID-19 added even more stressors and changed college admissions,” said to Rob Springall, assistant vice president for Enrollment Management and executive director of Undergraduate Admissions. “Two more years will also give Penn State the benefit of time to see what has permanently changed and how we can do our work even better. We are making this announcement now so current high school juniors and sophomores can make their college application and testing plans.”
Most of Penn State’s peer universities are currently test-optional and will be so in the upcoming admissions cycle, at least on an interim basis. Many of them have also seen significant numbers of applicants choosing not to have test scores considered.
Research on the initial impact of test-optional admissions found that there are some differences between the performance of students who sent test scores and those who did not. It is unclear how the various experiences of high school students during the pandemic play into the results. Vince Timbers, director of Undergraduate Admissions information systems and research, said this is an important reason to extend the test-optional program and continue to study student outcomes closely.
“It’s still difficult to discern the complete impact of test-optional admission,” Timbers said. “Penn State only has one class that was admitted test-optional that has also completed at least one year at our campuses. Analysis of added first-year classes will better separate the impact of test-optional admissions from the aftereffects of COVID-19. That’s why we concluded that our work isn’t finished.”
Timbers said further work will not only evaluate the current test-optional process but also look at new ways to show students’ talents and assess their readiness for Penn State.
The findings thus far were shared with the University Faculty Senate at its meeting on Nov. 29.
“The senate discussion on test-optional was lively. I am very pleased that we will continue to be test-optional so we can further understand the benefits and how best to be prepared to educate our future students,” said University Libraries’ Faculty Senator Janet Hughes.
As chair of the University Faculty Senate’s Committee of Admissions, Records, Scholarships, and Student Aid, Hughes has supported efforts to further research the impact of test-optional and share these findings with the full senate.
In absence of a test score, as has been the practice since June 2020, Undergraduate Admissions will continue to look at all factors of a student’s application, including grades earned in academic coursework; performance in honors, International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement courses; a student’s essay/personal statement; involvement in activities; and other achievements.
Undergraduate Admissions will lead the University effort to further assess the current test-optional program, updating both senior administration and the University Faculty Senate. This work will include other Penn State units, including the offices of Planning, Assessment and Institutional Research, and Undergraduate Education. Undergraduate Admissions also is collaborating with more than 50 universities on research to better understand the pandemic’s impact on college admissions nationally.
Undergraduate Admissions is part of Penn State’s Office of Enrollment Management. More information on applying to Penn State and the University’s undergraduate programs is available at admissions.psu.edu.