Computer Science at Penn State, offered as a B.S. through the College of Engineering (within the combined EECS department), is one of the most heavily demanded majors at a university that already receives well over 100,000 applications a year. For international students, it offers a rare combination: a large, ABET-accredited program with genuine research depth, strong industry recruiting pipelines into the US Northeast tech corridor, and admission criteria that, while more competitive than Penn State's university-wide average, are still transparent and achievable for well-prepared applicants.
This article walks through exactly what it takes to get into and succeed in Penn State's Computer Science program: the real acceptance picture, cost, requirements, English-test rules, and career outcomes.
Acceptance Rate
Penn State does not publish a single, official "Computer Science acceptance rate" the way some universities publish department-level admit rates. What is documented, directly from Penn State's own program pages, is a two-stage structure that matters more than a headline percentage:
- University admission: Penn State's overall undergraduate acceptance rate is around 55%, and applicants typically apply either directly into the College of Engineering or into the Division of Undergraduate Studies with an interest in CS.
- Entrance to the Computer Science major: Regardless of how a student is initially admitted, formal entry into the CS major requires completing 29-55 graded Penn State credits (transfer and AP credit do not count toward this) with a grade of C or better in CMPSC 121/131, CMPSC 122/132, MATH 140, MATH 141, and PHYS 211, plus a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.20.
In practice, this means the effective bar for finishing in Computer Science is considerably higher than the university's 55% headline acceptance rate suggests. Because the major has historically had strong demand relative to capacity, students who are admitted to Penn State intending to study CS but who do not clear the 3.20 GPA threshold in their prerequisite courses may need to pursue an alternate major within Engineering or IST. No third-party source in this research confirmed a precise numeric "percentage of students who successfully enter the CS major," so treat the 3.20 GPA and prerequisite-course requirements as the real, documented gatekeeping mechanism rather than a percentage figure.
Fees and Cost of Attendance
Computer Science students pay standard College of Engineering tuition and fees, which for international (out-of-state) undergraduates at University Park for 2026-2027 is:
| Cost item | Amount (USD/year) |
|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | ~$44,574 ($22,287/semester) |
| International student services fee | ~$1,500 |
| Room and meals | ~$14,050-$18,276 |
| Total estimated cost of attendance | ~$67,410-$71,636 (third-party estimate; Penn State's own published figure is the $44,574 tuition line) |
Engineering does not currently charge a separate program-specific tuition differential above the standard University Park undergraduate rate, based on the sources reviewed for this article, though this should be reconfirmed on Penn State's tuition schedule for the specific year you enroll, since per-college differentials have existed at some universities and can change. Some College of Engineering scholarships and Smeal-style merit awards are available, but funding for undergraduates is not guaranteed and international students are not eligible for US federal aid.
Admission Requirements
- Completed application via Penn State's application portal or the Common Application, applying into the College of Engineering (or Division of Undergraduate Studies with a CS interest)
- Official secondary school transcripts, with certified English translations if not in English
- Strong performance in mathematics and physics is expected, given the heavy STEM prerequisite load ahead
- SAT/ACT scores are test-optional, though competitive Engineering applicants often submit scores in Penn State's admitted middle-50% range or above
- Evidence of English proficiency (unless exempt, see below)
- Once enrolled, formal admission to the CS major itself requires completing CMPSC 121/131, CMPSC 122/132, MATH 140, MATH 141, and PHYS 211 with a C or better in each, and a cumulative GPA of at least 3.20
How to Get Into Penn State's Computer Science Program
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Treat the entrance-to-major GPA as your real target, not the university admission bar. A 3.20 cumulative GPA across your first several semesters, while also passing every listed prerequisite course with a C or better, is the actual gate that determines whether you finish in CS. Build your first-year study plan around protecting this GPA, especially in CMPSC 121/131 and the calculus sequence.
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Come in with demonstrated programming exposure if possible. While not a formal requirement, applicants who arrive with prior coding experience (competitive programming, personal projects, AP Computer Science, or equivalent) generally have an easier time clearing the CMPSC prerequisite sequence at the required grade level.
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Don't neglect physics and calculus. International applicants sometimes focus preparation narrowly on programming, but MATH 140/141 and PHYS 211 are equally load-bearing for the entrance-to-major GPA calculation.
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Apply directly into the College of Engineering rather than a general division where possible. This keeps your intended major visible from day one and avoids extra steps later, though Penn State does allow declared-major changes for students who discover CS is (or isn't) the right fit after arriving.
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Clear the English proficiency bar with room to spare. Given the reading-heavy technical documentation and group project work in upper-level CS courses, scoring meaningfully above the stated IELTS/TOEFL minimum reduces friction in a demanding major.
English Proficiency Requirement (IELTS/TOEFL)
Computer Science applicants follow Penn State's standard university-wide English proficiency requirements, since there is no published CS-specific override:
- IELTS Academic: minimum 6.5
- TOEFL iBT: minimum 80 (for exams before January 21, 2026; 4.5 on the redesigned scale for exams from that date onward)
- Duolingo English Test: minimum 120
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading/Writing (570+) or ACT English (24+) can also satisfy this requirement in place of a separate English test
For the full breakdown of waivers, score validity windows, and how these requirements apply university-wide, see Penn State's full acceptance rate, fees, and requirements guide.
Career Outcomes
Penn State's Computer Science graduates benefit from a large, well-established recruiting pipeline into the US tech industry, reinforced by STEM-OPT eligibility:
- Median first-year earnings (Computer and Information Sciences, bachelor's degree): approximately $74,100, per aggregated outcomes data; Penn State's own First-Destination dashboard should be checked directly for the most current cohort-specific figures, since a single confirmed official Penn State number for CS specifically was not located during this research
- STEM OPT eligibility: Computer Science is a STEM-designated major, qualifying graduates for the 24-month STEM OPT extension on top of standard 12-month OPT, for up to three years of US work authorization after graduation
- Employers: Penn State's large-scale career fairs and the College of Engineering's dedicated career services draw major technology and engineering employers to campus; specific companies mentioned in graduate outcomes data (via aggregated third-party sources rather than an official Penn State list) include large technology firms, though a comprehensive, officially confirmed employer list specific to CS graduates was not available from Penn State's own published sources at the time of writing
Because Penn State's CS program is large and spans many concentrations (software engineering, AI/ML, systems, security, and more), individual outcomes vary by concentration and by how much internship and project experience a student builds before graduating.
FAQ
Does Penn State publish an official acceptance rate for Computer Science specifically? No. Penn State does not publish a department-level CS acceptance rate. The documented gatekeeping mechanism is entrance-to-major admission, which requires a 3.20 cumulative GPA and C-or-better grades in a specific set of prerequisite courses, on top of general university admission (around 55% university-wide).
What GPA do I need to get into the CS major after enrolling at Penn State? A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.20, along with a grade of C or better in CMPSC 121/131, CMPSC 122/132, MATH 140, MATH 141, and PHYS 211.
Is the SAT or ACT required for Computer Science applicants? No, Penn State is currently test-optional, though competitive Engineering applicants often submit scores in or above the university's admitted middle-50% SAT range (roughly 1260-1430 university-wide; Engineering/CS applicants often trend higher).
What IELTS or TOEFL score do I need? The standard Penn State minimums apply: IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 80 (pre-January 21, 2026 scale) / 4.5 (redesigned scale). There is no published CS-specific override of these minimums.
How much does Penn State's Computer Science program cost for international students? Tuition and fees are approximately $44,574/year (Penn State's own published 2026-2027 figure), with a total estimated cost of attendance, including room, meals, and fees, in the roughly $67,000-$72,000/year range per third-party aggregator estimates.
Does Computer Science at Penn State qualify for STEM OPT? Yes. Computer Science is a STEM-designated major, making graduates eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension in addition to standard 12-month OPT.