Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

University Park, PA, USA

Pennsylvania State University, Penn State, is a land-, sea-, and space-grant university with a main campus in University Park. This public research institution was founded in 1855 and is one of the largest universities in the US by student body. Its high research activity has led to its Applied Research Lab and the United States Department of Defense maintaining a research partnership for the United States Navy since 1945. Penn State offers 275 bachelor’s degree options across its 24 campuses, an Online World Campus, and a wide variety of Education Abroad opportunities, faculty-led, semester, and summer programs. The University Park campus features the Schreyer Honors College.

Admissions

Key Admissions Stats

Institution Type
Public
  • Not for Profit
  • Coed

Need Aware

This school may consider an applicant’s financial situation when deciding admission

Level of Institution
4 Year
Campus Setting
Small city
0
100
76%
Acceptance Rate

Admissions Requirements

SAT
SAT is checked
Yes
ACT
ACT is checked
Yes
Transcript
Transcript is not checked
No

Important Deadlines

Application TypeApplication DeadlineReply Deadline
Early Action Acceptance is not binding, but student will receive admissions decision earlier.November 1May 1
Fall Regular DecisionDecember 1May 1
Spring Regular DecisionNovember 1

Admitted Student Stats

In-State Students
58%
Out-Of-State Students
43%
13%
Submitting ACT
77%
Submitting SAT
Average ACT Composite: 26
0
36
Average SAT Composite: 1201
0
1600

Academics

Key Academic Stats

Highest Degree Offered
Doctorate
Total Number of Students
46,810
Total Number of Undergrads
40,363
Academic Calendar

Semester

See your fit
Classroom Sizes

2-19 Students
34%
20-39 Students
39%
40-99 Students
19%
100+ Students
6%
0
100
50%
Graduate in 4 Years US National: 28%
0
100
69%
Graduate in 6 Years US National: 52%
Student:Faculty Ratio
14:1
US National: 21:1

Tuition, Cost & Aid

Key Financial Stats

Average Net Price
$25,548
Calculate your net cost
Tuition
In-State Tuition In-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who meet the state's or institution's residency requirements. In-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students residing in the locality in which they attend school and may be a lower rate than in-state tuition if offered by the institution.
$19,835
Out-of-State Tuition Out-of-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who do not meet the state’s or institution’s residency requirements. Out-of-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students not residing in the locality in which they attend school.
$38,651
Additional Costs
Room and Board The weighted average for room and board and other expenses is generated as follows:
  • (amount for on-campus room, board and other expenses * # of students living on-campus.
  • + amount for off-campus (with family) room, board and other expenses * # of students living off-campus with family
  • + amount for off-campus (not with family) room, board and other expenses * # of students living off-campus not with family)
divided by the total # of students. Students whose living arrangements are unknown are excluded from the calculation. For some institutions the # of students by living arrangement will be known, but dollar amounts will not be known. In this case the # of students with no corresponding dollar amount will be excluded from the denominator.
$12,984
Books and Supplies
$1840

Aid & Grants

0
100
62%
Need Met
Students Receiving Gift Aid Percent of undergraduate students awarded federal gift aid. Federal gift aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
23%
Average Aid Per Year
$8,678
Students Receiving Grants Percent of undergraduate students awarded grant aid. Grant aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
23%
Average Federal Grant Aid Per Year
$5,062
Average Institution Grant Aid Per Year
$5,855

Student Loans

Students Borrowing Loans Loans to students - Any monies that must be repaid to the lending institution for which the student is the designated borrower. Includes all Title IV subsidized and unsubsidized loans and all institutionally- and privately-sponsored loans. Does not include PLUS and other loans made directly to parents.
52%
Average Loan Amount Per Year
$9,985
Average Debt at Graduation The median federal debt of undergraduate borrowers who graduated. This figure includes only federal loans; it excludes private student loans and Parent PLUS loans.
$19,500
Median Monthly Loan Payment The median monthly loan payment for student borrowers who completed, if it were repaid over 10 years at a 5.05% interest rate.
$247

Campus Life

Key Campus Stats

Student Gender
Male
Female
53%
47%
Student Organizations
986
Size of Town
Small city
LGBTQIA Student Resource Groups
LGBTQIA Student Resource Groups is checked
Yes
On Campus Women's Center
On Campus Women's Center is checked
Yes

Housing

0
100
35%
Undergrads Living on Campus
On-campus living required of freshman
No

Athletics

Divisional Sports Nickname
Nittany Lions
School Colors
blue and white
Varsity Athletics Association
NCAA
Varsity Athletics Conference Primary
Big Ten Conference

Campus Safety

24-HR security patrol
24-HR security patrol is checked
Yes
Campus emergency phones
Campus emergency phones is checked
Yes

After Graduation

Post Grad Stats

Top 5 Cities
Philadelphia
New York
Pittsburgh
State College
Washington
Employed
6 mos. after graduation
72%
Average Salary
6 years after graduation
$57,200

What Students Are Saying

Penn State was a large beautiful school. It offered many different fields for students to choose to major in. There were many activities to do, organizations to join, and people to meet.
Michelle
i couldn't be more content with my choice of university for undergraduate education. penn state has so much to offer for students like me who don't put a limit to their dreams: highly-ranked academics, endless extra-curricular activities, greek life, study abroad options, and more. the campus is named one of the safest in the country, and the atmosphere is so serene that i never want to leave.
Alexandra from Sewell, NJ
Your Penn State Experience hinges solely on what you make of it. The University is bursting at the seams with opportunity, you just have to be your best advocate and find them. If you do, it'll be the most rewarding experience of your life.
Jacob from Bellefonte, PA
This is a school if you want to get your quality education and at the same time, find your own passion for life.

This school is not only conducive environmentally especially for students, both locals and internationals, but also very supportive of your race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation.

One more thing, State College is very safe even in the middle of the night if you want to walk home from library, no worries, more studies!
Abdul Aziz from Malaysia