86%
Graduation Rate
2%
Transfer-out Rate
93%
Retention Rate
[updated for 2024-2025 graduation data]
At Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus, the graduation rate is 86 % within 150% normal time, the retention rate is 93 %, and the transfer-out rate is 2 %, as of August 31, 2025.
Its graduation rate is relatively higher than the average rate when comparing similar colleges' rate of 72.57% (public Research University with very high research activity).
Graduation Rates in Reasonable Completion Time
For the academic year 2024-2025, 6,929 students out of 8,049 candidates have completed their courses within 150% normal time (i.e. in 6 years for 4-year BS degree) at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus.
By gender, 3,370 male and 3,559 female students graduated the school last year completing their jobs in the period.
| Candidates | Completers | Graduation Rates |
|---|
| Total | 8,049 | 6,929 | 86.09% |
|---|
| Men | 4,051 | 3,370 | 83.19% |
|---|
| Women | 3,998 | 3,559 | 89.02% |
|---|
Graduation Rate By Race/Ethnicity
The following table shows graduation rate by race and at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus.
- American Indian or Alaska Native: 50.00%
- Asian: 84.70%
- Black (Non-Hispanic): 74.77%
- Hispanic: 81.11%
- White: 88.47%
- Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander: 85.71%
- Two or More Race: 75.85%
- Unknown: 84.35%
Graduation Rate by Gender
| Total | Male | Female |
|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 50.00%(2/4) |
- |
66.67%(2/3) |
|---|
| Asian | 84.70%(382/451) |
84.91%(197/232) |
84.47%(185/219) |
|---|
| Black (Non-Hispanic) | 74.77%(240/321) |
67.91%(91/134) |
79.68%(149/187) |
|---|
| Hispanic | 81.11%(468/577) |
79.86%(222/278) |
82.27%(246/299) |
|---|
| White | 88.47%(4,858/5,491) |
84.88%(2,319/2,732) |
92.03%(2,539/2,759) |
|---|
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 85.71%(6/7) |
80.00%(4/5) |
100.00%(2/2) |
|---|
| Two or More Race | 75.85%(201/265) |
72.81%(83/114) |
78.15%(118/151) |
|---|
| Unknown | 84.35%(124/147) |
80.23%(69/86) |
90.16%(55/61) |
|---|
Transfer-out and Retention Rates
At Penn State, the transfer-out rate is 1.70%. Its transfer-out rate is much lower than the average rate when comparing similar colleges' rate of 13.49%.
Penn State's retention rate is 93% for full-time students and 85 % for part-time students last year. Its retention rate is around the average rate when comparing similar colleges' rate of 87.20%.
Non-Resident Alien Graduation Rate
A non-resident alien student is not a US citizen/green card holder and studies with a student visa, such as an F visa, in the United States. At Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus, 648 of 786 non-resident alien students completed their studies and the graduation rate was 82.44%.