UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Smeal College of Business has announced Smeal Direct, a new initiative for students applying to enter the college for summer and fall 2026 and beyond.
Under Smeal Direct, students admitted to Smeal upon admittance to Penn State will enjoy guaranteed placement into a Smeal major, assuming appropriate academic progress.
This new process reflects the college’s commitment to cultivating stronger ties between students, faculty and staff from the start of the undergraduate journey.
“This is an exciting opportunity for students to become part of the Smeal community from day one,” said Corey Phelps, John and Karen Arnold Dean. “They will benefit from earlier access to Smeal resources and the guarantee of a Smeal major, assuming appropriate academic progress.”
Prospective Smeal students should indicate their interest in a Smeal major and their intent to complete their degree at University Park when submitting their Penn State application.
Smeal majors include accounting, actuarial science, corporate innovation & entrepreneurship, finance, management, business analytics & information systems (formerly management information systems), marketing, real estate, risk management and supply chain & information systems. Students can begin their Smeal journey at University Park or any of Penn State’s Commonwealth Campuses and finish in a Smeal major at University Park.
Students not admitted into Smeal upon admittance to the University may apply in the spring of their first year at Penn State via the Smeal Second-Year Entry process, but entry is competitive and extremely limited.
“Our advice to students interested in studying business at Smeal is simple: apply to Smeal by selecting a Smeal major when you apply to the University,” said Jennifer Eury, associate dean for undergraduate education for Smeal.
To support students and families in understanding the Smeal admissions process, Smeal has published a Frequently Asked Questions page that will be updated regularly with the latest information. Interested students are encouraged to experience Smeal for themselves by scheduling an on-campus visit or a virtual visit.