BS at Penn State: Fees 2026 Dates & Requirements

BS at Penn State: Fees 2026 Dates & Requirements

State College, PennsylvaniaLocation
UniversitySchool type
Estd1855established year
45218enrollment
Public
7.4/10

Bachelor of Science [B.S]

4 years
Full Time
On Campus

Field of Study

$44,574 /Yr

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Study Abroad Team

Updated on - Aug 6, 2026

Pennsylvania State University Bachelor of Science is a four-year, 120-credit, full-time interdisciplinary degree completed at Penn State Behrend in Erie. Indian applicants need secondary-school preparation in mathematics and laboratory science. Calculated 2027-28 tuition and mandatory fees total US$120,684 (INR 1.15 Crore) across four years for the Fall 2027 intake.

The curriculum builds foundations in calculus, chemistry, computing, biology and physics before students shape one of four science options. Its flexibility suits applicants with a cross-disciplinary goal, although students seeking a tightly prescribed single-subject pathway must plan their supporting courses more deliberately.

  • Students can choose General Science, Environmental Studies, General Science Pre-certification or Earth and Space Science Pre-certification.
  • Supporting credits can build a minor or sequence in business, education, technical writing or another complementary field.
  • The Erie campus offers laboratory learning, undergraduate research and an average class size of 26 across the campus.

Current Admission Status

Applications for the Fall 2027 intake are Open. International student deadline: 28 July 2027.

Indian applicants should treat 1 November 2026 as the stronger submission date because it qualifies for Early Action. A complete file by that date receives a decision by 24 December 2026, leaving more time for funding and visa documentation.

Penn State B.S. Fees and Living Costs 2027

The 2027-28 non-Pennsylvania rate applies to international students at Erie. Because Penn State prices lower and upper divisions differently, the useful comparison is the calculated four-year total, not one annual figure multiplied four times.

Fall 2027 fee basis: the calculation assumes two lower-division years, two Science upper-division years and eight full-time semesters of mandatory student charges.

Fee componentOfficial US$ amountINR equivalent
Lower division tuition per academic yearUS$27,174INR 25.84 Lakhs
Upper division Science tuition per academic yearUS$28,872INR 27.46 Lakhs
International undergraduate fee per semesterUS$750INR 71,327
Student initiated fee per semesterUS$324INR 30,813
Calculated four-year tuition and mandatory feesUS$120,684INR 1.15 Crore

All INR conversions in the article use a conversion rate of US$ 1 = INR 95.1031 as of 06 August 2026. Rates fluctuate daily, verify before applying.

Source: Penn State 2027-28 tuition schedule for non-Pennsylvania undergraduates at Altoona, Berks, Erie and Harrisburg.

The four-year amount uses US$27,174 (INR 25.84 Lakhs) twice and US$28,872 (INR 27.46 Lakhs) twice. It then adds eight semesters of US$1,074 (INR 1.02 Lakhs) in fees, while housing, meals, insurance, books and travel remain separate.

Read More: Penn State courses and fees

Cost of Living in Erie for B.S. Students

Penn State’s latest readable international financial-guarantee estimate combines living expenses and mandatory health insurance rather than publishing a target-cycle Erie spending breakdown. The following prior-cycle amount is therefore a planning reference, not a Fall 2027 bill.

2025-26 prior-cycle context: Penn State estimated US$52,100 (INR 49.55 Lakhs) for a Science undergraduate at Erie. That figure included US$27,200 (INR 25.87 Lakhs) for tuition and fees.

ExpenseMonthly US$Monthly INR valueAnnual US$Annual INR value
Combined living costs and health insuranceUS$2,767INR 2.63 LakhsUS$24,900INR 23.68 Lakhs
Total for the nine-month academic yearUS$2,767INR 2.63 LakhsUS$24,900INR 23.68 Lakhs

A first-year prior-cycle planning illustration is US$27,174 tuition plus US$2,148 mandatory fees plus US$24,900 living and insurance, producing US$54,222 (INR 51.57 Lakhs). This calculation mixes confirmed 2027-28 academic charges with clearly labelled 2025-26 living context, so applicants should not use it as a university-published target-cycle total.

Check Out: cost of living in the United States

ROI reality: The flexible curriculum can support several career directions, but the US$120,684 (INR 1.15 Crore) academic cost makes an unfocused option plan expensive. Choose the intended science concentration before committing funds.

Also Check: Penn State admission requirements

Penn State B.S. Admission 2027

Penn State does not publish a course-specific minimum school percentage for first-year Science B.S. admission. Selection is holistic, with the high-school record carrying the greatest weight and the Erie campus profile serving only as context.

Academic Eligibility for Indian Applicants

Applicants must complete secondary school and provide records for every year studied, examination results and a grading key. Since this major begins with calculus and laboratory sciences, evidence of sustained mathematics, chemistry and science preparation directly supports readiness.

Current admissions context: no figure below is a guaranteed cutoff, and Penn State makes the final Indian credential equivalency decision.

Admission evidencePublished requirement or benchmarkIndian applicant meaning
Secondary qualificationCompleted secondary-school record with leaving examination resultsSubmit Class 9 to 12 records and the relevant board result
Mathematics preparationAlgebra, geometry and trigonometry support entry to calculusClass 11 and 12 mathematics is the practical preparation for MATH 140
Behrend admitted GPA profileGPA 3.16 to 3.65 on 4.0Approximately 79% to 91%, or CGPA 7.9 to 9.1 on 10
SAT profileMiddle 50% range of 1060 to 1250A benchmark, not a minimum or guaranteed admission score
Application testing policySAT or ACT submission is optionalUse a score only when it strengthens the academic record or proves English

The published GPA range describes the middle half of students offered Behrend admission, not Science B.S. entrants alone. Indian percentage and CGPA figures are approximate because Penn State publishes no India-specific conversion, so applicants should preserve their board’s grading scale.

English Language Proficiency

International applicants whose native language is not English must prove proficiency through an accepted route. Penn State requires official test reports, while TOEFL, IELTS and Duolingo English Test results must be less than two years old.

English routeMinimum accepted result
IELTS Academic6.5 overall
TOEFL taken after 21 January 20264.5 on the internet-based TOEFL
TOEFL taken before 21 January 202680 on the internet-based TOEFL
Duolingo English Test120
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing570
ACT English24
  • Applicants testing after 21 January 2026 should use Penn State’s published TOEFL 4.5 rule and never self-convert an older score.
  • IELTS Academic at 6.5 offers a clearly stated route when an applicant prefers a familiar scale.
  • Match the legal name on the application and score report because a mismatch can delay Penn State’s processing.
Tip for Indian students: A broad science degree still starts with demanding quantitative foundations. Use Class 11 and 12 mathematics and laboratory results to demonstrate readiness, then select the English route whose published minimum you can verify.

Penn State B.S. Application 2027

The strongest Fall 2027 strategy is a complete Early Action file by 1 November 2026. Penn State accepts later international applications, but the July cutoff is designed around visa processing rather than optimal admission planning.

Fall 2027 sequence: Penn State publishes dates without a portal cutoff time, so applicants should complete every item before the calendar date in Eastern Time.

Application stagePublished dateDecision consequence
Early Action complete-file deadline1 November 2026Qualifies for the non-binding early review timeline
Early Action decisionBy 24 December 2026Admission, denial or deferral is issued
November application completion30 November 2026Decision published by 31 January 2027
December application completion31 December 2026Decision published by 28 February 2027
January application completion31 January 2027Decision published by 31 March 2027
International final deadline28 July 2027No further Fall international applications are accepted

The application uses MyPennState or the Common Application and carries a US$75 fee (INR 7,133). A submitted form is not complete until Penn State receives the STARS academic record and acceptable English evidence where required.

  • Create the STARS record from Class 9 onward and retain the board’s grading key before opening the application.
  • Choose Erie as the intended completion campus because this Science degree is not completed at University Park.
  • Send official English results early enough for name matching and checklist processing before 1 November 2026.
  • Use the December decision window to compare the offer against the full four-year funding requirement.

The degree requires choosing an option and later earning at least a C in specified advanced courses, but first-year applicants do not submit a portfolio or separate departmental application. The personal record should therefore explain why a broad scientific design fits better than one conventional discipline.

Application tip: Early Action creates an eight-month margin before the international final date and provides a decision by 24 December. Use that margin to resolve funding, housing and the Erie campus commitment.

Penn State B.S. Scholarships 2027

International students accepted to Penn State Behrend receive automatic scholarship consideration without filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. However, Penn State describes undergraduate international aid as extremely limited, so no award should be assumed in the funding plan.

Current published opportunities: Penn State has not assigned the general awards below to Fall 2027, while eligibility and values remain live on Behrend pages.

Scholarship or funding routePublished valueINR equivalentEligibility and application routePublished deadline
Behrend academic and need-based scholarshipsAverage US$2,000 to US$6,000INR 1.90 Lakhs to INR 5.71 LakhsAutomatic consideration after admission; awards depend on donor criteriaNo Fall 2027 date published
Schreyer Academic Excellence ScholarshipUS$2,500 guaranteed, potentially up to US$5,000 yearlyINR 2.38 Lakhs to INR 4.76 LakhsIncoming Schreyer Scholars at Behrend; higher value depends on demonstrated needSchreyer admission timeline controls
Behrend undergraduate research grantUS$700 to US$1,200INR 66,572 to INR 1.14 LakhsEnrolled students undertaking eligible undergraduate researchProject-specific cycle

The Behrend average equals INR 1.90 Lakhs to INR 5.71 Lakhs, while the Schreyer range equals INR 2.38 Lakhs to INR 4.76 Lakhs. Research grants equal INR 66,572 to INR 1.14 Lakhs and support projects rather than replacing annual tuition.

Even a US$6,000 award (INR 5.71 Lakhs) reduces the four-year cost only when renewed under the donor’s rules. Before accepting, verify the term, renewal conditions and international eligibility on the official Behrend scholarship page.

  • Treat automatic consideration as access to review, not as evidence that funding will be offered.
  • Apply separately to Schreyer only when the honours workload and admission process fit the intended science option.
  • Use research funding for an approved project because its published value does not cover normal tuition or living charges.
Scholarship reality: Behrend automatically considers accepted international students, but the university also warns that aid is extremely limited. Build the visa funding proof without an assumed award and treat any offer as upside.

Penn State B.S. Salary 2027

Penn State publishes no Science B.S. cohort salary, offer rate or sector distribution. The university instead reports destination examples including laboratory manager, environmental specialist, field engineer, science teacher and several licensed health professions.

External job-market context: the following United States medians come from May 2024 federal data and are not Penn State graduate salaries.

Role aligned with an optionEvidence scopeMedian annual payINR equivalentEntry condition
Biological technicianExternal United States occupationUS$52,000INR 49.45 LakhsBachelor’s degree typically required
Environmental scientist or specialistExternal United States occupationUS$80,060INR 76.14 LakhsBachelor’s degree typically required
High school teacherExternal United States occupationUS$64,580INR 61.41 LakhsBachelor’s degree plus state certification commonly required

Source: United States Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2024 median pay.

The difference among these medians reflects different occupations, credentials and labour markets rather than a return promised by the degree. Actual take-home pay also changes with state, tax status and benefits, so an admitted student should model the intended location separately.

Return on Investment for Indian Students

The academic cost of US$120,684 (INR 1.15 Crore) precedes living, insurance and travel. Course-specific employment evidence is unavailable, making option design, internship evidence and postgraduate licensing central to whether the investment supports a credible role.

  • The General Science option supports customization, so select one 18-credit science concentration that produces a recognisable technical profile for employers or graduate schools.
  • The Environmental Studies option requires applied research, internship, field school or study abroad, making that experience the clearest evidence to show beyond the degree title.
  • Teaching pre-certification prepares subject matter but not automatic licensure, so price the additional certification pathway before treating the US$64,580 (INR 61.41 Lakhs) benchmark as relevant.
  • Health professions named by Penn State require further education or licensing, so families must add those costs before choosing this degree as a pre-health route.
  • An India-return plan should test whether the chosen concentration, laboratory methods and internships map to named Indian roles because United States medians do not transfer across markets.

The broad curriculum becomes financially defensible only when supporting credits create specific evidence, such as laboratory research, data work or environmental field experience. Without that focus, the degree’s flexibility increases career ambiguity while the international cost remains fixed.

ROI reality: Penn State reports possible occupations but no Science B.S. placement rate or cohort salary. Commit only after mapping one option, its required experience and any additional credential to a funded career route.

USA Visa for Penn State B.S. Students 2027

Admitted international students normally use an F-1 student visa after Penn State issues the Form I-20. Graduation can lead to Optional Practical Training, while later employer sponsorship and permanent residence remain separate processes with no guaranteed timeline.

  • The standard Optional Practical Training window is 12 months, while a further 24-month extension requires an eligible STEM code, employer and application.
  • The F-1 visa application fee is US$185 (INR 17,594), and the separate I-901 SEVIS fee is US$350 (INR 33,286).
  • H-1B sponsorship requires the higher applicable actual or prevailing wage rather than one national salary threshold, and most applicants face the annual selection process.
  • F-2 spouses and children may accompany the student, but an F-2 spouse cannot work and must be funded within the visa plan.

Read More: United States student visa requirements

Visa reality: The standard work window is short relative to the programme’s international cost. Confirm the Science B.S. classification on the issued I-20 before relying on a STEM extension in any repayment plan.

Penn State’s Science B.S. fits an applicant who wants broad quantitative foundations and can turn flexible supporting credits into one coherent technical direction. Erie adds small-campus science teaching and research access, while the four options preserve routes into environmental work, graduate study or teaching preparation. However, limited international funding and missing course-cohort employment data make an unfocused plan financially risky. Complete Early Action by 1 November 2026 only after choosing an option and funding the degree without assumed scholarship or extended work authorization.

Penn State Bachelor of Science FAQs

Ques. Is Penn State’s Science B.S. a general degree or a specialist degree?

Ans. It is an interdisciplinary science degree with common foundations and a chosen option. The value comes from building a visible concentration through supporting courses, research or field experience rather than remaining broadly general.

Ques. How competitive is Science B.S. admission for an Indian applicant?

Ans. Penn State publishes no Science-specific acceptance rate or Indian cutoff. The Behrend GPA and SAT ranges are context only, so mathematics, laboratory sciences and a coherent reason for interdisciplinary study matter more than matching one number.

Ques. What is the realistic first-year budget for Fall 2027?

Ans. Confirmed tuition and mandatory fees equal US$29,322 (INR 27.89 Lakhs). Adding the labelled 2025-26 living and insurance reference produces US$54,222 (INR 51.57 Lakhs), but it is not an official target-cycle total.

Ques. Should an applicant wait until Penn State’s July international deadline?

Ans. No, the stronger target is Early Action on 1 November 2026 because it carries a decision by 24 December. That result gives more time to compare funding, organize housing and prepare visa documentation.

Ques. Does the Science B.S. guarantee three years of post-study work?

Ans. No, standard Optional Practical Training lasts 12 months. A further 24 months depends on the programme code, qualifying employment and federal rules, so verify the I-20 classification before using it in an ROI model.


Important Alert

  • Final Application Deadline for Spring Intake - Oct 1, 2026

Tuition Fees

Year1st Year Fees
Tuition Fees$44574

Other Expenses

HeadAvg Cost Per Year
Books and supply$1290
Total Cost$1290

Previous Year Tuition Fees

Year1st Year Fees
2024$45874
2023$36974
2021$35984

Important Dates

Dates for upcoming intake are tentative
EventApplication Date
Final Application Deadline for Summer Intake Apr 15, 2026
Final Application Deadline for Fall Intake Jun 15, 2026
Final Application Deadline for Spring Intake Oct 1, 2026
Regular Application Deadline for Spring Intake Jan 6, 2026 - Oct 1, 2026
Early Action Application Deadline for Fall and Summer Intake Jan 8, 2025 - Nov 1, 2026
Priority Application Deadline for Fall and Summer Intake Jan 8, 2026 - Feb 1, 2027

Scores Required

6.5 / 9

Avg. Score in

IELTS

4.5 / 6

Avg. Score in

TOEFL

120 / 160

Avg. Score in

Duolingo

75

Application Fees

120

ECTS Credits


Required Document List

  • Apply via MyPennState or Common App
  • Submit STARS self-reported grades
  • Provide official transcripts (last 3 years)
  • SAT/ACT optional
  • English test required

Ranking

20222021

Times Higher Education logo
Sciences 119 out of 1200 in Global Ranking
( #15 out of 52 in USA 2022)

Academy Ranking of World Universities,Clasificación Académica de Universidades Mundiales logo
Sciences 51 out of 500 in Global Ranking
( #25 out of 147 in USA 2022)

US News logo
Sciences 76 out of 250 in Global Ranking
( #15 out of 57 in USA 2022)

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