Smeal Direct
Beginning Summer 2026, students admitted to the Smeal College of Business upon acceptance into the University will be guaranteed placement into a Smeal major, assuming appropriate academic progress.
Students enrolled at Penn State in a non-Smeal college but later develop interest in a Smeal major may apply to change into Smeal through Smeal’s Second-Year Entry process. Applications for the Smeal Second-Year Entry must be submitted in Spring semester of a student's first year.
Students must be in Smeal in order to pursue a Smeal major. Being accepted to Smeal from the initial application to Penn State is the only way to guarantee entrance into a Smeal major.
APPLICATION AND ADMISSION TO PENN STATE
The application process and admissions structure remain unchanged within the Smeal Direct initiative. All applications to Penn State are handled through the Undergraduate Admissions Office. For more information, please visit admissions.psu.edu or contact admissions@psu.edu
Students applying for a Smeal degree should select one of the 10 Smeal majors on the application - Accounting, Actuarial Science, Corporate Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Finance, Management, Business Analytics & Information Systems, Marketing, Real Estate, Risk Management, Supply Chain & Information Systems
All first-year students accepted into Smeal from high school will begin as Business Administration Pre-Majors (BA_PMAJ), regardless of the intended major selected on the application.
ENTRANCE-TO-MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
Students admitted directly to Smeal from high school are eligible for a first-choice major by completing required coursework and meeting the cumulative GPA standard by the entrance-to-major deadline.
Cumulative GPA Requirements
| Major | Cumulative GPA |
| Accounting — ACCTG_BS | 3.10 |
| Actuarial Science — ACTSC_BS | 3.20 |
| Business Analytics & Information Systems — MIS_BS | 3.10 |
| Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship — CIENT_BS | 3.10 |
| Finance — FIN_BS | 3.50 |
| Management — MGMT_BS | 3.10 |
| Marketing — MKTG_BS | 3.10 |
| Real Estate — REST_BS | 3.10 |
| Risk Management — RM_BS | 3.10 |
| Supply Chain and Information Systems — SCIS_BS | 3.10 |
Required Coursework
- ENGL 15 (or equivalent)
- MATH 110**
- ECON 102
- STAT 200 or SCM 200
- ACCTG 211
- MGMT 301
- MKTG 301
- FIN 301
**Actuarial Science requires both MATH 140 and MATH 141
SMEAL SECOND-YEAR ENTRY
Students admitted to Penn State through another academic college, that become interested in a Smeal degree after initial coursework, will have equal opportunity to apply through Smeal’s Second-Year Entry application process.
- Application must be submitted in Spring of first-year.
- Process will be highly competitive.
- First-choice majors are not guaranteed.
- Academic performance and additional factors are considered.
NOTE: The Division of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) is no longer a guaranteed pathway into Smeal.
BEGIN AT A COMMONWEALTH CAMPUS
Starting at one of Penn State's 12 Commonwealth Campuses is a great option and possibility for many students beginning in Smeal. The 2+2 program gives flexibility to start in Smeal but at a campus, before transitioning to University Park for the final 2 years.
https://www.psu.edu/resources/first-year-students/2plus2plan
PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS
Interested students that want to learn more about Smeal are encouraged to attend a Smeal Prospect Student Information Session virtually or in-person (https://www.psu.edu/admission/undergraduate/explore/visit/colleges) or an Admitted Student Event (https://www.psu.edu/resources/admitted-students).