
Pennsylvania State University is located in University Park. It is a state-related, space grant, land grant public research facility. Also known as Penn State, the school has twenty-four campuses in Pennsylvania. University Park is the main and largest campus.
History
On February 22, 1855, Pennsylvania State University was established as the Farmer's High School of Pennsylvania. The name was changed to Agricultural College of Pennsylvania in 1862. In 1863, with the passing of the Morrill Land Grant Act, the school was chosen to be Pennsylvania's only land grand college. Within the next few years, enrolment fell because students were only able to acquire and agricultural education. In 1882, when George Atherton became president, the curriculum was broadened. Engineering studies were then offered. Penn State became one of the ten largest engineering schools in the US.
By the early 20th century, Penn State had grown considerably. In 1936, satellite campuses were established by President Don Hetzel in order to allow students of the Depression era to attend college. Since these students were needed to work at home during that time, without the satellite colleges, they wouldn't have been able to further their education.
School President Milton S. Eisenhower changed the name of the college to Pennsylvania State College in 1953 and the institution became state-related in 1970.
Campuses
The University Park campus has 13 distinct colleges. They are:
- College of Health and Human Development
- College of Arts and Architecture
- College of Agricultural Studies
- College of Communications
- College of Liberal Arts
- College of Information Science and Technology
- Penn State Dickinson School of Law
- Smeal College of Business
- Schreyer Honors College
- College of Engineering
- College of Education
- Eberly College of Science
- College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
Academics
Since 1945, the Applied Research Lab has partnered with the United States Department of Defense. Research is primarily in support of the US Navy.
The library system of Pennsylvania State University began with 1500 book. Today it houses 500,000 maps, 5.2 million books, 180,000 films and videos and 5 million microforms.
Pennsylvania State University's University Park campus also hosts a Radiation Science and Engineering Center.
Student Life
Pennsylvania State University has one of the largest Greek communities in the US. In 1888, the Penn State Glee Club was founded. It is the oldest student organization on campus. Each year the Glee Club takes a spring break tour, which has taken them to a multitude of destination world-wide.
The Penn State Paranormal Research Society has earned an abundance of media attention in recent years. The A&E Network is working with the university to develop a reality series. Some filming will be done on campus.
Each year in February, students take place in the Penn State Dance Marathon. Millions of dollars are raised annually for pediatric cancer care and research.
Media
Penn State's student newspaper is The Daily Collegian. Since 1996, an online version called The Digital Collegean has appeared online.
Radio station WKPS-FM was founded in 1995. It broadcasts from the ground floor of the HUB-Robeson Center. It serves the State College and Penn State communities.
Athletics
At one time a type of mountain lion roamed the University Park area. The Penn State mascot is the Nitany Lion. Some Penn State teams include:
- Football
- Soccer
- Basketball
- Volleyball
- Lacrosse
- Fencing
- Women's rugby
- Boxing
- Gymnastics
Community Life
There is much to see and do in the University Park area. Take in the Arboretum at Penn State, which is also known as H.O. Smith Botanical Gardens.
Visit Penn State University creamery, also known as Berkey Creamery. Enjoy an ice cream or sherbet or purchase delicious cheese, all produced by the Department of Food and Science.
Take in a football game at Beaver Stadium or enjoy a basketball game at Bryce Jordan Center. Whatever you chose, there is a wide variety of attractions and events in the University Park area. Be sure to check for dates and times.
Admission Requirements & Details
The information regarding admissions below may provide a better idea of the applicants Pennsylvania State University accepts. The details may include application requirements and recommendations, as well as any AP or college credits that may be transferred.
College Credits Accepted
- Dual Credits
- Life Experience Credits
- AP Course Credits
Student Enrollment
The total student enrollment at Pennsylvania State University is about 47,000, with undergraduate students making up about 86% of the total student population and graduate students making up the rest.
Estimated Costs & Financial Aid
The average "out of pocket" cost of attendance, after any grants and scholarships are considered, is around $25,000. In order to calculate a more accurate and detailed cost of attendance check out their cost calculator here. There is also a $50 application fee for those applying to a program. The figures listed below are for informational purposes only and do not represent current or future tuition, fees, and expenses.
Tuition & Fees Information
- Annual tuition range estimates:
- In-State Tuition: $17,000-$20,000
- Nonresident Student Tuition: $30,000-$36,480
- Part-time students are charged:
- In-State: $690-$830 per unit
- Out-of-State: $1,300-$1,500 per unit
- May provide a prepaid tuition option, which allows tuition to be purchased at current rates for enrollment at a future date
Financial Aid Details
The financial aid table below details the types of financial aid, along with the percent of students receiving aid, and on average the amount of aid per student per year.
Percent of Students | Average Amount | |
---|---|---|
Any Financial Aid | 65% | - |
Receiving Grants & Scholarships | 37% | $9,151 |
Receiving Student Loans | 47% | $9,130 |
Academics & Student Services
Student Services
To help support students, Pennsylvania State University may offer services to students like those listed below:- Distance learning
- Night and weekend classes available
- Remedial instructional courses
- Counseling assistance
- Employing students to lower education costs
- Employment search assistance
- Child care
Graduation Rates
Pennsylvania State University has a high graduation rate when compared to other similar schools in the area.
Number of Year to Graduate | Percent of Entering Class |
---|---|
Students Graduating in 4 Years | 65% |
Graduating in 5 Years | 18% |
Graduating in 6 Years | 2% |
Specialized Programs & Accreditations
- Art and Design Program
- Clinical Psychology (Ph.D.) Program
- Counseling Psychology (Ph.D.) Program
- Dietetics Program
- Health Services Administration Program
- Music Program
- Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN) Program
- Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) Program
- Nursing (MSN, DSN) Program
- Master's Degree in Nursing (MSN) Program
- School Psychology (Ph.D.) Program
- Speech-Language Pathology Program
- Elementary and Secondary School Teacher Education Program
- Theatre Program
Intercollegiate Athletics
Pennsylvania State University is a Member of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), with many of the sports being in the NCAA Division I-A classification. The most popular sports played are listed below:
- Baseball (Big Ten Conference)
- Basketball (Big Ten Conference)
- Track and Field (Big Ten Conference)
- Fencing
- Field Hockey
- Football (Big Ten Conference)
- Golf
- Gymnastics
- Lacrosse
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming and Diving
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Wrestling
Programs Offered
The program list below is organized by areas of study. The programs that have a link will direct you to the program's profile page where you can learn more about education requirements and career pathways.

Get more information about the programs offered by Pennsylvania State University by clicking the request information to the right.
(C) Certificate or Award | (A) Associate's | (B) Bachelor's | (M) Master's Degree | (D) Doctorate (PhD,...)
Agriculture Operations
- Animal Science (B, D, M)
- Agricultural Business (B)
- Food Science (B, D, M)
- Agriculture (B)
- Turf Management (B)
- Landscaping (B)
- Plant Sciences (B, D, M)
- Agricultural Mechanization (B)
- Horticultural Science (B, D, M)
- Agronomy and Crop Science (M)
- Soil Science and Agronomy (M)
- Plant Protection and Integrated Pest Management (B)
- Agriculture, Agriculture Operations and Related Sciences (B)
Architecture
- Architecture (B, M)
- Landscape Architect (B, M)
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Biology (B, D, M)
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences (B, D, M)
- Biochemistry (B, D)
- Biotechnology (M)
- Toxicology (B)
- Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology (B)
- Ecology (D, M)
- Plant Pathology, Phytopathology (D, M)
- Entomology (D, M)
- Genetics (M)
- Pathology, Experimental Pathology (D, M)
- Molecular Biology (D, M)
- Animal Physiology (D, M)
- Biomedical Science (M)
- Plant Physiology (D)
- Immunology (D)
- Molecular Toxicology (D)
- Neuroscience (D)
Business and Marketing Studies
- Finance (B)
- Accounting (B, M)
- Advertising and Marketing (B)
- Organizational Behavior Studies (B)
- Business, Management, Marketing and Related Support Services (B)
- Business Administration (D, M)
- Information Systems (B)
- Labor and Industrial Relations (B, M)
- Human Resources Management (C)
- Risk Management and Insurance (B)
- Commerce (A)
- Logistics and Supply Chain Management (B)
- Business Economics
- Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
Communications and Journalism
- Advertising (B)
- Journalism (B, C)
- Communication and Journalism (B)
- Communications (B, D, M)
- Media Studies (D)
Computer and Information Sciences
- Information Science (A, B, C, D, M)
- Computer (B)
- Computer and Information Systems Security (C)
- Computer Science (D, M)
- Data Processing Technology (C)
- Information Technology
- Web Design
Education
- Early Childhood Education (B)
- Secondary Education (B)
- Curriculum and Instruction (D, M)
- Higher Education Administration (D, M)
- Educational Leadership and Administration (C, D, M)
- Guidance Counselor (D, M)
- ESL (M)
- Music Teacher Education (B, D, M)
- Special Education (B, C, D, M)
- Agricultural Teacher Education (B, D, M)
- Educational Assessment, Evaluation and Research (B)
- Adult and Continuing Education Administration (B, D, M)
- Art Teacher Education (B, D, M)
- Foreign Language Teacher Education (B, C)
- Adult and Continuing Education (D, M)
- Educational and Instructional Media Design (D, M)
- Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education (D, M)
- Educational Evaluation and Research (M)
- College Student Counseling and Personnel Services
- Elementary Education
- Teaching French As a Second or Foreign Language
Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering (B, D, M)
- Industrial Engineering (B, D, M)
- Electrical Engineering (B, D, M)
- Civil Engineering (B, C, D, M)
- Chemical Engineering (B, D, M)
- Petroleum Engineering (B, D, M)
- Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (B, C, D, M)
- Architectural Engineering (B, D, M)
- Biomedical Engineering (B, D, M)
- Nuclear Engineering (B, D, M)
- Engineering (B, C)
- Computer Engineering (B)
- Engineering Science (B, D, M)
- Environmental and Environmental Health Engineering (B, D, M)
- Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Bioengineering (B, D, M)
- Materials Engineering (D, M)
- Mining and Mineral Engineering (B)
- Engineering Mechanics (M)
Engineering Technology
- Environmental Engineering Technology and Environmental Technology (M)
English Language and Literature
- English (B, D, M)
Ethnic Cultural and Gender Studies
- African-American Black Studies (B)
- Asian Studies (B)
- Women's Studies (B)
- Latin American Studies (B)
- African Studies
- East Asian Studies
Family and Consumer Sciences
- Family Studies (A, B, D, M)
- Human Nutrition (B, D, M)
Foreign Languages and Literature
- Spanish Language and Literature (B, D, M)
- French Language and Literature (B, D, M)
- German Language and Literature (B, D, M)
- Comparative Literature (B, D, M)
- Classical Languages, Literatures and Linguistics (B)
- Linguistics (D)
- Japanese Language and Literature (B)
- Chinese Language and Literature (B)
- Italian Language and Literature (B)
- Russian Language and Literature (B, M)
Health and Clinical Professions
- Communication Disorders (B, D, M)
- Healthcare Administration (B, D, M)
- Nursing (B, D, M)
- Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (B)
- Pre-Veterinary Studies (B)
- Veterinary Microbiology and Immunobiology (B)
- Athletic Training (B)
- PreMed Studies (B, C)
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (C)
- Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling
- Public Health
- Dietitian Assistant
- Nursing Administration
- Family Practice Nurse
History
- History (B, D, M)
Interdisciplinary Studies
- Biological and Physical Sciences (B, C)
- International and Global Studies (C, M)
- Medieval and Renaissance Studies (B)
- Science, Technology and Society (B)
Legal Professions and Studies
- Law (D)
- Programs for Foreign Lawyers (M)
Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Liberal Arts (A)
Mathematics and Statistics
- Math (B, D, M)
- Statistics (B, D, M)
Natural Resources and Conservation
- Natural Resources and Conservation (B, D, M)
- Environmental and Wildlife Management (B)
- Environmental Studies (B)
- Forest Sciences and Biology (B)
- Forest Resources Management (M)
- Natural Resource Economics (D)
- Forest Technology (B)
Philosophy and Religious Studies
- Philosophy (B, D, M)
- Jewish and Judaic Studies (B)
- Religious Studies
Physical Sciences
- Geology (B, D, M)
- Materials Science (B, D)
- Chemistry (B, D, M)
- Meteorology (B, D, M)
- Physics (B, D, M)
- Geological and Earth Sciences, Geosciences (B)
- Astronomy (B, D, M)
- Acoustics (D, M)
Psychology
- Psychology (B, D, M)
- Educational Psychology (D, M)
- School Psychology (D, M)
- Counseling Psychology (D)
Public Administration and Social Services
- Community Organization and Advocacy (M)
- Youth Services and Administration (M)
- Public Administration
Recreation and Fitness Studies
- Kinesiology And Exercise Science (B, D, M)
- Parks and Recreation Management (B, D)
- Parks and Recreation
Science Technology
- Biology Technician, Biotechnology Laboratory Technician (B)
Security and Protective Services
- Law and Justice Administration (B)
- Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, and Firefighting (B)
- Forensic Science (B, M)
- Criminal Justice
Social Sciences
- Economics (B, D, M)
- International Relations (B)
- Political Science (B, D, M)
- Sociology (B, D, M)
- Geography (B, D, M)
- Anthropology (B, D, M)
- Archaeology (B)
- Criminology (M)
Visual and Performing Arts
- Art Studies (B, M)
- Film Studies (B)
- Visual and Performing Arts (B)
- Music (B)
- Acting (B)
- Art History (B, D, M)
- Graphic Design (B)
- Design and Applied Arts (B)
- Drama and Theatre Arts (M)
- Theatre Design and Technology (B)
- Music Performance (B, M)
- Piano and Organ (D, M)
- Music Theory and Composition (M)
- Conducting (M)
- Music History, Literature, and Theory (M)
- Musicology and Ethnomusicology
- Voice and Opera
Other 4-Year Public Colleges
The list of schools below have been selected by researching which schools offer similar programs to Pennsylvania State University.
- Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania in Lock Haven, PA (31 miles away)
- Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Altoona in Altoona, PA (34 miles away)
- Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Dubois in DuBois, PA (51 miles away)
- Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania in Shippensburg, PA (55 miles away)
- University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown in Johnstown, PA (63 miles away)
See a list of all the colleges and universities by clicking on one of the links below:
- See all colleges in Pennsylvania
- Get a list of all state universities in Pennsylvania