Offer Guide: Transfer Admission

Let’s get started! Accept your offer of admission

Log in to your MyPennState Portal and click on Accept your offer of admission. Read your letter closely as it outlines your intended area of study, start term, and starting campus. You will be asked to submit a non-refundable enrollment deposit online.

*Please note the reply date on the Acceptance Notification from Penn State; replying after that date may void your offer of admission.

File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

A redesigned FAFSA is expected to launch in December 2023 for the 2024-25 award year. Stay tuned to studentaid.gov for availability and deadlines. Penn State’s Federal School Code is 00329. We will begin making student aid awards to first-year students in March. You can review your award when you login to your LionPATH account. Visit the Office of Student Aid website for more information.

Congratulations on your offer of admission to Penn State! Before you start your Penn State experience, there are a few steps you need to take. We have compiled a checklist to ensure you meet all the requirements and deadlines before your start at the University.

If you have questions, visit the Penn State admissions website or contact them directly at admissions@psu.edu or 814-865-5471.

Contact an academic adviser

As a transfer student, you are encouraged to contact an academic adviser within the academic unit and campus to which you have been admitted, to discuss your transfer credits and Penn State requirements for your major. When discussing transfer credit, you should reference the Evaluation of Transferable Credit that accompanied your offer of admission. Contact information can be found on the campus or college’s specific website.

Review your information in LionPATH

LionPATH is where you will review your financial aid package, review transfer credits, schedule courses, pay your tuition bill, and conduct other University business. LionPATH uses the same username and password as your MyPennState Portal.

Attend Transfer Student Orientation

Information about making your reservation will be sent after you accept your offer of admission. You will be meeting with an academic adviser during Transfer Student Orientation. Please bring the Evaluation of Transferable Credit included with your offer of admission, as well as the course catalog from your other college(s) and/or an outline of the syllabus for each course you took. This information will help your adviser determine the best use of your credits toward your degree.

Submit your immunization forms

Penn State requires all students to have the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) immunization. If you are living in a University-owned residence hall, you must have the Meningococcal Conjugate vaccination as well. Immunization forms must be submitted prior to your New Student Orientation date. Visit the immunization website for more information.

Submit your final high school transcript

Typically, high school transcripts and/or GED transcripts are not required to review a student’s application. However, these documents are required of all transfer students accepting offers to Penn State. Final high school and/or GED transcripts must be received prior to a student’s enrollment. In order to be considered official, all transcripts must be sent from the high school (or GED testing service) directly to Penn State.

Welcome to Penn State!

Submit your final college transcript

Any coursework that was not yet completed when you applied to Penn State must be submitted to the Undergraduate Admissions Office directly from the institution where you completed coursework to be considered official. Transcripts may be sent through mail, fax, Parchment, eScripSafe, or the National Student Clearinghouse. If your school requires an email address to send the transcript electronically, please use admissions@psu.edu

Pay your semester bill

Tuition bills are generated by the Office of the Bursar Bills can be paid online through your LionPATH. Bills can be paid online through your LionPATH Student Services Center. Please check your Penn State email account for an email with instructions to complete payment.

Understanding Your Evaluation of Transferable Credit

Please use the following information to understand how your coursework was evaluated:

Completed Courses: The credits listed are for courses completed at other regionally accredited institution(s) where you received a grade of C (2.0) or higher with quality points.

Test Credit: Credit can be awarded based upon exam results for certain tests such as Advanced Placement (AP) exams and College-Level Examination Program (CLEP). Details on academic credit awarded for these types of examinations can be found on the Academic Credit website.

Non-Transferable Courses: Credit for courses in which you receive a grade below C (2.0) or courses that do not meet the standard of a Penn State course will not be transferred to Penn State.

Military Course Credit: Educational experiences for veterans or active-duty members of the armed services or the reserves may be eligible for credit. Details about documents to be sent in for review for credit can be found on the Military Credit website

Course Grades: Course grades are not transferred to your Penn State record and will not be included in the calculation of your GPA at Penn State.

Pending Evaluation: An incoming course without an existing Penn State evaluation will be assigned a TRN XFRPEN code. Once you provide Undergraduate Admissions with a course syllabus, faculty within that discipline will review the information to determine the Penn State course equivalency.

As TRN XFRPEN credit cannot be used to fulfill degree requirements, please send course syllabi to crediteval@psu.edu as early as possible in order for faculty to review to determine the transfer course’s Penn State course equivalency. For more information visit our Transferring Credits to Penn State webpage

Courses Taken on a Pass/Fail Basis: Credit for courses taken on a pass/fail or satisfactory/ unsatisfactory basis can be considered only if we have official verification from the college or university that the grades earned were equivalent to a C (2.0) of higher.

Credit by Examination: Credit for courses taken by examination program at another school typically cannot be transferred to Penn State.

Credit Hours Students must earn at least 36 of the last 60 credits of a baccalaureate program or 18 of the last 30 credits of an associate degree at Penn State in order to receive a Penn State degree. Transferable credits are indicated as either specific Penn State course equivalents or as general credits.

Using transferable credits at Penn State

Transferable credits may be used to fulfill degree requirements, as well as General Education requirements, and are applied to a student’s program of study at the discretion of the academic college of enrollment, not Undergraduate Admissions. For more information about degree program requirements, contact your academic adviser and visit the University Bulletins webpage

More information about types of credit awarded can be found within the Evaluation of Transferable Credit you received with your offer of admission, and is visible in the communication center of LionPATH.

Resources

Academic Calendar

Prior Learning Assessment

View important dates for the academic year by visiting the academic calendar

You may be arriving at Penn State with prior knowledge, training, and professional skills that may be applicable to your degree requirements. Visit the Prior Learning Assessment website to learn about opportunities for earning credit though military service, work experience, testing, and portfolios.

Disability Services

Virtual Tour

International Students

Housing

For information about services for students with disabilities, visit the Penn State Student Disability Resources website, or call 814-863-1807.

Discover Penn State, schedule a visit, and get to know your campus through our virtual tour

International students who accept their offer of admission will be contacted by Penn State Global to begin the I-20 process.

On-campus housing is not guaranteed for transfer students. The following campuses offer limited housing accommodations: Abington (primarily for first-year students), Altoona, Beaver, Behrend, Berks, Brandywine, Greater Allegheny, Harrisburg, Hazleton, Mont Alto, Schuylkill, and University Park. If you have an offer of admission to one of these campuses, please contact the housing office there to discuss your options. Most campuses offer privately owned apartments and other housing located within walking distance of campus. Please contact the Student Affairs office at your campus of offer for more information.

Office of Veterans Programs

University Health Services

Penn State is recognized by many prominent publications and organizations as a Military-Friendly University. If you are an active member of the armed services or a veteran, you will have access to a wealth of services to support you.

Visit the University Health Services site for more information about immunizations, medical, pharmacy, and health insurance options available to Penn State students. If you have any health problems (physical or emotional) that limit your activity, please notify University Health Services of your situation and anticipated needs as soon as possible.

Conditions of Our Offer of Admission

Conditional Offers

A permanent offer of admission is pending the completion of your in-progress college coursework and maintaining good academic standing with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 (C) or higher. Once you have completed your coursework, you must send your official and final college transcript to the Undergraduate Admissions Office.

Admission to a College

If you have been offered admission to an academic college rather than to a specific major (e.g. College of the Liberal Arts rather than Economics), it means that approval must be received from the college dean’s office before you can be assigned to your desired major. Students typically must meet entrance-to-major requirements, which can include achievement of a specific Penn State GPA and completion of prerequisite courses with specific minimum grades. Consult your academic adviser for specific information on admission to a major.

World Language

Two units in a single world language other than English are required. American Sign Language can be used to satisfy this requirement. You may be admitted with fewer than two units but must correct this deficiency by the time you graduate from Penn State. This deficiency may be corrected by passing one three- or four-credit collegelevel world language course, by earning transferable credits from another institution, or by demonstrating proficiency equivalent to two units of high school world language study.

Statement of Academic Integrity

Penn State students and faculty are committed to scholarly principles that respect and acknowledge individual achievement. At Penn State, certain behaviors are viewed as unacceptable, including cheating, plagiarism, falsifying or fabricating information, and aiding and abetting academic dishonesty. Students who violate these principles are subject to penalties, including course failure and dismissal from Penn State. By accepting the offer of admission, you agree to observe all rules and regulations of The Pennsylvania State University.

Statement of Personal Responsibility

Penn State students are expected to uphold the principles of the University and adhere to the University Code of Conduct on or off campus. For more information and to access the Code of Conduct, please visit our Office of Student Conduct website

University Contacts

COLLEGES AND ACADEMIC AREAS

Agricultural Sciences

814-865-7521

agsci.psu.edu

Arts and Architecture

814-865-9523 arts.psu.edu

Smeal College of Business

814-863-1947 smeal.psu.edu

Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications

814-863-1484 bellisario.psu.edu

Earth and Mineral Sciences

814-863-2751 ems.psu.edu

Education

814-865-0488 ed.psu.edu

Engineering

814-863-1033 engr.psu.edu

Health and Human Development

814-865-2156 hhd.psu.edu

Information Sciences and Technology

814-865-8947 ist.psu.edu

Liberal Arts

814-865-7691 la.psu.edu

RESOURCES AND STUDENT SERVICES

Adult Learner Programs and Services

814-863-7378

studentaffairs.psu.edu/adults

AURORA

814-865-3890 shaverscreek.org/aurora

Blue Band

814-865-3982 blueband.psu.edu

Career Services

814-865-2377

studentaffairs.psu.edu/career

Education Abroad

814-865-7681 global.psu.edu

Housing

814-865-7501 (University Park)

814-865-7862 (Commonwealth Campuses) liveon.psu.edu

Intercollegiate Athletics

1-800-NITTANY (648-8269) gopsusports.com

International Student Advising

814-865-6348 global.psu.edu

Learning Edge Academic Program (LEAP) (Summer at Univeristy Park) 814-863-4174 leap.psu.edu

Multicutural Resources Center 814-865-1773 equity.psu.edu/mrc

Nursing

814-863-2229 nursing.psu.edu

Eberly College of Science

814-863-3889 science.psu.edu

Schreyer Honors College

814-863-2635 shc.psu.edu

Division of Undergraduate Studies

814-865-7576 dus.psu.edu

Office of Veterans Programs

814-863-0465

equity.psu.edu/veterans

Student Activities

814-863-4624 studentaffairs.psu.edu

Student Aid (financial aid and scholarships) 814-865-6301 studentaid.psu.edu

Student Disability Resources

814-863-1807 (voice or TTY) equity.psu.edu/ods

Naval and Marine Corps ROTC 814-865-6289

nrotc.psu.edu