Admission
Student & Administrative Services Center, Rm. 1068 · (570) 327-4761 or (800) 367-9222 · Fax: 570.321.5551
How to Apply for Admission
Due to the wide variety of majors offered, admissions criteria vary. At a minimum, applicants must have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
Your complete application -
Your Application for Admission, nonrefundable $50 application fee, and transcripts or GED scores must be on file in the Admissions Office before you will be considered for admission.
Step 1. Complete the Degree Application
The deadline to apply is July 1 for first-year, full-time, degree-seeking students who wish to begin in the Fall.*
*The College reserves the right to extend the application deadline. In cases where personal hardship, military service, or home relocation reasonably prevents application before the deadline, you may appeal to the Director of Admissions.
Step 2. Submit a nonrefundable $50 application fee with your Application for Admission (check or money order payable to Penn College OR use your Visa, MasterCard, or Discover card when you apply online).
If you have already submitted your Degree Application to Penn College, but haven't submitted your nonrefundable $50 application fee*, you can do it through the Student Information System (SIS).
*The fee may be waived in cases of financial hardship. To be considered for a waiver, you must submit to the Director of Admissions documentation, in the form of a letter (on company stationary from someone outside your household, such as a counselor, caseworker, clergy, etc.) stating that the fee is a hardship.
Step 3. Submit proof of eligibility for admission, according to your particular situation.
High School Students
Ask your guidance counselor to submit your current high school transcript with your application. After you graduate, ask your high school to submit your official, final transcript with proof of credits and graduation as proof of your graduation from an accredited secondary school.
High School Graduates
You must show proof of graduation from an accredited secondary school. Ask your former high school to submit your official, final transcript with proof of credits and graduation.
Home-Schooled Students
You must provide proof of graduation from an organization governed by a State Board of Education, such as Pennsylvania Homeschoolers Accreditation Agency, or submit an official General Equivalency Diploma (GED) score to be considered for admission.
Over 18 Without High School Diploma
You must submit an official GED score to be considered for admission into a degree program. You may be considered for admission as a nondegree student if you have not earned a GED, but have been deemed to have the appropriate aptitude and ability to enter college. Nondegree students may register for no more than six (6) credits per semester and are not eligible for financial aid.
Early Admission
If you have completed the 11th grade, you may be considered for early admission as a full-time or part-time student in lieu of your senior year of high school.
Transfer Students
Ask all previously attended college(s) to send your official transcript(s) to the Admissions Office at Penn College. An official transcript must come directly from the previous college(s) to Penn College – not from you. Provide course descriptions or a college catalog(s) to the Advisement Center at Penn College for use in evaluating your courses for transfer. The Admissions Office also may request a copy of your high school transcript.
Step 4. Submit proof of your eligibility for admission to your selected degree.
Bachelor's Degree
If you are a high school student, or if you have completed high school within
the last two years, you must request that your SAT/ACT test scores be submitted
to the Admissions Office to be considered for admission into a bachelor-degree
major. If you completed standardized tests more than two years ago or have no
scores to submit, contact the Admissions Office for more information.
Note: Penn College's CEEB code for standardized tests is 002989.
Associate's Degree or Certificate
You are not required to submit SAT/ACT test scores to be considered for admission into an associate-degree or certificate major. If your scores are available, you are encouraged to request that they be sent to the Admissions Office to assist in your proper placement and scheduling.
Step 5. Submit proof of your eligibility, as required for majors with special admission requirements.
All bachelor-degree majors and some associate-degree majors are restricted to students who meet certain academic skills and prerequisites and have attained levels of academic achievement, including acceptable SAT/ACT scores.
Review the specific requirements for your degree in the College Catalog.
After You Apply For Admission
You will be notified of the status of your application within 10 business days. You may track the status of your application through the Student Information System.
If there are no concerns regarding your application, you will be asked to complete the steps listed on our After You Apply for Admission checklist.