UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. –– The Penn State Smeal College of Business has announced that the University has approved entrance-to-major GPA requirements for students starting in the 2026-27 academic year, as part of the Smeal Direct initiative.
Under Smeal Direct, students admitted directly to Smeal upon acceptance to Penn State are guaranteed placement into their first-choice major, provided they complete required coursework and meet the minimum cumulative GPA by the entrance-to-major deadline.
“Today’s announcement allows the college to provide prospective and accepted students the clarity and certainty they need to plan for their preferred major,” said Jennifer Eury, associate dean for undergraduate education. “It also enables students to make informed decisions about their academic journey from the start.”
GPA requirements for each of the 10 Smeal majors for students starting in Summer/Fall 2026 are:
- Accounting (ACCTG_BS) – 3.10
- Actuarial Science (ACTSC_BS) – 3.20
- Business Analytics and Information Systems (MIS_BS) – 3.10
- Corporate Innovation & 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 & Information Systems (SCIS_BS) – 3.10
Entrance-to-major courses remain unchanged for the Summer/Fall 2026 cohort and can be reviewed on Smeal’s website.
Students not admitted to Smeal upon entry into the University may apply through the Smeal Second-Year Entry process — during the spring semester of their first year. Smeal’s Second-Year Entry process is expected to be highly competitive and limited.
A Major Assignment Process will be used to place students who enter Smeal through the Smeal Second-Year Entry as well as Smeal Direct students who did not meet the minimum GPA requirements.
Students in the Major Assignment Process will be assigned based on space availability and preference. Assignment to a first-choice major cannot be guaranteed during this process.
“These requirements create a roadmap for students and allow us to align advising, coursework and support resources to help students thrive in their chosen major,” Eury said.
Further details about Smeal Direct and the Smeal Second-Year Entry process will be released as they are finalized.