Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
University Park, PA · Public four-year · City: Small
42,223undergraduates
61%admitted
Test-optionalSAT/ACT
$27,450average net price per year
86%graduate in 6 years
92%return for year two
Admissions
- Applicants
- 85,956
- Admitted
- 46,605
- Admit rate
- 61%
- Admit rate, women
- 56%
- Admit rate, men
- 52%
- Admitted students who enroll
- 19%
- First-year students
- 9,040
- SAT/ACT
- Test-optional
- Students who sent SAT scores
- 33%
- SAT reading and writing (middle 50%)
- 610-690
- SAT math (middle 50%)
- 610-710
- Students who sent ACT scores
- 6%
- ACT composite (middle 50%)
- 27-32
| High school GPA | Required |
|---|---|
| High school record | Required |
| College-prep coursework | Considered, not required |
| SAT or ACT scores | Considered, not required |
| Recommendations | Not considered |
| Essay or personal statement | Considered, not required |
| Class rank | Not considered |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required |
| Work experience | Not considered |
| Legacy status | Not considered |
Majors
154 undergraduate programs that awarded a degree or certificate last year, grouped by field. Numbers are how many were awarded.
Business, management, marketing, and related support services (16)
- Accounting Bachelor's (219 awarded)
- Actuarial Science Bachelor's (25 awarded)
- Business Administration and Management, General Certificate (under 1 year) (2 awarded)
- Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other Certificate (under 1 year) (241 awarded), Bachelor's (66 awarded)
- Business/Commerce, General Certificate (under 1 year) (2 awarded)
- Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations, Other Bachelor's (97 awarded)
- Finance, General Bachelor's (533 awarded)
- Hospitality Administration/Management, Other Bachelor's (109 awarded)
- Labor and Industrial Relations Certificate (under 1 year) (1 awarded), Bachelor's (76 awarded)
- Management Information Systems and Services, Other Certificate (under 1 year) (3 awarded)
- Management Information Systems, General Bachelor's (87 awarded)
- Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other Bachelor's (17 awarded)
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General Bachelor's (393 awarded)
- Meeting and Event Planning Certificate (under 1 year) (25 awarded)
- Organizational Behavior Studies Bachelor's (168 awarded)
- Real Estate Certificate (under 1 year) (112 awarded)
Engineering (18)
- Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, General Certificate (under 1 year) (2 awarded), Bachelor's (150 awarded)
- Agricultural Engineering Bachelor's (32 awarded)
- Architectural Engineering Bachelor's (110 awarded)
- Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering Bachelor's (140 awarded)
- Chemical Engineering Bachelor's (130 awarded)
- Civil Engineering, General Bachelor's (165 awarded)
- Computer Engineering, General Bachelor's (70 awarded)
- Computer Software Engineering Bachelor's (1 awarded)
- Electrical and Electronics Engineering Bachelor's (133 awarded)
- Engineering Science Bachelor's (25 awarded)
- Engineering, General Certificate (under 1 year) (2 awarded)
- Engineering, Other Certificate (under 1 year) (7 awarded), Bachelor's (29 awarded)
- Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering Bachelor's (19 awarded)
- Industrial Engineering Bachelor's (139 awarded)
- Mechanical Engineering Bachelor's (385 awarded)
- Mining and Mineral Engineering Bachelor's (2 awarded)
- Nuclear Engineering Bachelor's (22 awarded)
- Petroleum Engineering Bachelor's (68 awarded)
Computer and information sciences and support services (6)
- Computer and Information Sciences, General Certificate (under 1 year) (8 awarded), Bachelor's (426 awarded)
- Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance Certificate (under 1 year) (7 awarded), Certificate (1-2 years) (167 awarded), Bachelor's (272 awarded)
- Data Processing and Data Processing Technology/Technician Bachelor's (6 awarded)
- Human-Centered Technology Design Bachelor's (45 awarded)
- Informatics Bachelor's (43 awarded)
- Information Science/Studies Bachelor's (427 awarded)
Communication, journalism, and related programs (8)
- Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other Bachelor's (4 awarded)
- Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia Bachelor's (176 awarded)
- Journalism Bachelor's (183 awarded)
- Journalism, Other Certificate (under 1 year) (68 awarded)
- Mass Communication/Media Studies Bachelor's (56 awarded)
- Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Bachelor's (1 awarded)
- Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, Other Bachelor's (319 awarded)
- Speech Communication and Rhetoric Bachelor's (68 awarded)
Social sciences (7)
- Anthropology, General Bachelor's (34 awarded)
- Development Economics and International Development Bachelor's (15 awarded)
- Econometrics and Quantitative Economics Bachelor's (340 awarded)
- Geographic Information Science and Cartography Certificate (under 1 year) (17 awarded)
- International Relations and Affairs Bachelor's (97 awarded)
- Political Science and Government, General Bachelor's (190 awarded)
- Sociology, General Bachelor's (63 awarded)
Biological and biomedical sciences (5)
- Biochemistry Bachelor's (93 awarded)
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other Bachelor's (330 awarded)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General Bachelor's (299 awarded)
- Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology Bachelor's (7 awarded)
- Toxicology Bachelor's (13 awarded)
Psychology (2)
- Counseling Psychology Certificate (under 1 year) (1 awarded)
- Psychology, General Bachelor's (512 awarded)
Health professions and related programs (6)
- Athletic Training/Trainer Bachelor's (1 awarded)
- Communication Sciences and Disorders, General Bachelor's (124 awarded)
- Health/Health Care Administration/Management Bachelor's (86 awarded)
- Pre-Medicine/Pre-Medical Studies Bachelor's (48 awarded)
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Other Certificate (under 1 year) (7 awarded), Bachelor's (132 awarded)
- Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions, Other Bachelor's (53 awarded)
Education (11)
- Art Teacher Education Bachelor's (10 awarded)
- Education, Other Certificate (under 1 year) (29 awarded)
- Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research, Other Bachelor's (16 awarded)
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General Certificate (under 1 year) (1 awarded)
- Foreign Language Teacher Education Bachelor's (6 awarded)
- Music Teacher Education Bachelor's (21 awarded)
- Secondary Education and Teaching Bachelor's (99 awarded)
- Special Education and Teaching, General Bachelor's (16 awarded)
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other Associate (3 awarded)
- Teacher Education, Multiple Levels Bachelor's (229 awarded)
- Trade and Industrial Teacher Education Bachelor's (2 awarded)
Agricultural/animal/plant/veterinary science and related fields (11)
- Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations Bachelor's (84 awarded)
- Agricultural and Extension Education Services Bachelor's (10 awarded)
- Agriculture, General Bachelor's (25 awarded)
- Agronomy and Crop Science Certificate (under 1 year) (1 awarded)
- Animal Sciences, General Bachelor's (74 awarded)
- Food Science Bachelor's (34 awarded)
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Bachelor's (17 awarded)
- Plant Sciences, General Bachelor's (35 awarded)
- Pre-Veterinary Studies Bachelor's (80 awarded)
- Turf and Turfgrass Management Bachelor's (11 awarded)
- Veterinary Microbiology and Immunobiology Bachelor's (33 awarded)
Multi/interdisciplinary studies (8)
- Biological and Physical Sciences Certificate (under 1 year) (2 awarded), Bachelor's (106 awarded)
- Data Science, General Bachelor's (122 awarded)
- Geography and Environmental Studies Certificate (under 1 year) (34 awarded), Bachelor's (22 awarded)
- Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies Certificate (under 1 year) (1 awarded)
- International/Globalization Studies Certificate (under 1 year) (2 awarded)
- Nutrition Sciences Bachelor's (72 awarded)
- Science, Technology and Society Bachelor's (12 awarded)
- Sustainability Studies Bachelor's (6 awarded)
Physical sciences (7)
- Astronomy Bachelor's (33 awarded)
- Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, General Certificate (under 1 year) (1 awarded), Bachelor's (32 awarded)
- Chemistry, General Bachelor's (57 awarded)
- Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences, Other Certificate (1-2 years) (12 awarded), Bachelor's (34 awarded)
- Geology/Earth Science, General Bachelor's (48 awarded)
- Materials Science Bachelor's (57 awarded)
- Physics, General Bachelor's (62 awarded)
Parks, recreation, leisure, fitness, and kinesiology (2)
- Exercise Science and Kinesiology Bachelor's (221 awarded)
- Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management, General Bachelor's (83 awarded)
Homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting and related protective services (2)
- Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration Bachelor's (253 awarded)
- Forensic Science and Technology Bachelor's (43 awarded)
Visual and performing arts (11)
- Acting Bachelor's (20 awarded)
- Art History, Criticism and Conservation Bachelor's (13 awarded)
- Art/Art Studies, General Bachelor's (35 awarded)
- Cinematography and Film/Video Production Bachelor's (71 awarded)
- Design and Applied Arts, Other Bachelor's (12 awarded)
- Graphic Design Bachelor's (14 awarded)
- Music Performance, General Bachelor's (1 awarded)
- Music, General Bachelor's (27 awarded)
- Photography Bachelor's (8 awarded)
- Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology Bachelor's (22 awarded)
- Visual and Performing Arts, General Bachelor's (10 awarded)
Mathematics and statistics (2)
- Mathematics, General Bachelor's (136 awarded)
- Statistics, General Bachelor's (64 awarded)
Architecture and related services (2)
- Architecture Bachelor's (64 awarded)
- Landscape Architecture Bachelor's (29 awarded)
Foreign languages, literatures, and linguistics (10)
- Chinese Language and Literature Bachelor's (7 awarded)
- Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General Bachelor's (13 awarded)
- Comparative Literature Bachelor's (8 awarded)
- French Language and Literature Bachelor's (12 awarded)
- German Language and Literature Bachelor's (7 awarded)
- Italian Language and Literature Bachelor's (5 awarded)
- Japanese Language and Literature Bachelor's (2 awarded)
- Korean Language and Literature Bachelor's (1 awarded)
- Russian Language and Literature Bachelor's (1 awarded)
- Spanish Language and Literature Bachelor's (36 awarded)
Natural resources and conservation (4)
- Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy, Other Bachelor's (1 awarded)
- Forest Sciences and Biology Bachelor's (15 awarded)
- Natural Resources and Conservation, Other Certificate (under 1 year) (3 awarded), Bachelor's (34 awarded)
- Natural Resources/Conservation, General Bachelor's (28 awarded)
English language and literature/letters (1)
- English Language and Literature, General Bachelor's (71 awarded)
History (1)
- History, General Bachelor's (58 awarded)
Family and consumer sciences/human sciences (2)
- Child Development Certificate (under 1 year) (3 awarded)
- Human Development and Family Studies, General Bachelor's (53 awarded)
Philosophy and religious studies (2)
- Jewish/Judaic Studies Certificate (1-2 years) (4 awarded)
- Philosophy Bachelor's (36 awarded)
Liberal arts and sciences, general studies and humanities (3)
- Humanities/Humanistic Studies Bachelor's (7 awarded)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other Certificate (under 1 year) (28 awarded)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies Associate (2 awarded), Bachelor's (2 awarded)
Area, ethnic, cultural, gender, and group studies (5)
- African-American/Black Studies Bachelor's (10 awarded)
- Asian Studies/Civilization Bachelor's (5 awarded)
- Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies, Other Certificate (under 1 year) (1 awarded)
- Near and Middle Eastern Studies Bachelor's (1 awarded)
- Women's Studies Bachelor's (10 awarded)
Science technologies/technicians (1)
- Biology/Biotechnology Technology/Technician Bachelor's (27 awarded)
Engineering/engineering-related technologies/technicians (1)
- Engineering Design Certificate (under 1 year) (7 awarded)
Graduate programs (133)
- Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, General Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Agricultural Engineering Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Architectural Engineering Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Chemical Engineering Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Civil Engineering, General Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Electrical and Electronics Engineering Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Engineering Science Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Engineering, Other Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Industrial Engineering Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Manufacturing Engineering Master's
- Materials Engineering Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Mechanical Engineering Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Nuclear Engineering Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Accounting Post-bachelor's certificate, Master's
- Business Administration and Management, General Post-bachelor's certificate, Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other Post-bachelor's certificate
- Business/Commerce, General Post-bachelor's certificate
- Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies Post-bachelor's certificate
- Hospitality Administration/Management, Other Doctorate (research)
- Human Resources Management and Services, Other Post-bachelor's certificate
- Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General Master's
- Labor and Industrial Relations Master's
- Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management Post-bachelor's certificate
- Management Science Post-bachelor's certificate, Master's
- Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other Post-bachelor's certificate, Master's
- Marketing Research Post-bachelor's certificate
- Project Management Post-bachelor's certificate
- Real Estate Post-bachelor's certificate
- Law Doctorate (professional)
- Programs for Foreign Lawyers Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Communication Sciences and Disorders, General Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Geriatric Nurse/Nursing Post-bachelor's certificate
- Health/Health Care Administration/Management Master's, Doctorate (research)
- International Public Health/International Health Post-bachelor's certificate
- Medical Science/Scientist Post-bachelor's certificate
- Medicine Doctorate (professional)
- Physician Associate/Assistant Master's
- Public Health, General Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Other Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance Master's
- Computer Science Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Informatics Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Information Science/Studies Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching Doctorate (research)
- Art Teacher Education Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Curriculum and Instruction Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Educational Evaluation and Research Post-bachelor's certificate
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General Post-bachelor's certificate
- Educational/Instructional Technology Doctorate (research)
- Higher Education/Higher Education Administration Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Music Teacher Education Master's
- Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Special Education and Teaching, General Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor Master's
- Trade and Industrial Teacher Education Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Anatomy Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Animal Physiology Doctorate (research)
- Biochemistry Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Bioinformatics Doctorate (research)
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Biomedical Sciences, General Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Biotechnology Master's
- Ecology Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Entomology Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Epidemiology Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Neuroscience Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Pathology/Experimental Pathology Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Plant Pathology/Phytopathology Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Acoustics Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Astronomy Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, General Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Chemistry, General Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Geology/Earth Science, General Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Physics, General Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Geography and Environmental Studies Master's, Doctorate (research)
- International/Globalization Studies Post-bachelor's certificate, Master's
- Nutrition Sciences Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Sustainability Studies Post-bachelor's certificate, Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Financial Mathematics Post-bachelor's certificate, Master's
- Mathematics, General Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Statistics, General Post-bachelor's certificate, Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Anthropology, General Master's
- Criminology Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Econometrics and Quantitative Economics Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Political Science and Government, General Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Social Sciences, Other Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Sociology, General Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Educational Psychology Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Research and Experimental Psychology, Other Master's, Doctorate (research)
- School Psychology Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Agricultural and Extension Education Services Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Agronomy and Crop Science Doctorate (research)
- Animal Sciences, General Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine Master's
- Food Science Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Horticultural Science Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Plant Sciences, General Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Plant Sciences, Other Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Soil Science and Agronomy, General Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Art History, Criticism and Conservation Master's
- Art/Art Studies, General Master's
- Conducting Master's
- Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General Master's
- Keyboard Instruments Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Music Performance, General Master's
- Music Theory and Composition Master's
- Comparative Literature Master's, Doctorate (research)
- French Language and Literature Master's, Doctorate (research)
- German Language and Literature Doctorate (research)
- Linguistics Doctorate (research)
- Spanish Language and Literature Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology Master's
- Architecture Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Landscape Architecture Master's
- English Language and Literature, General Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Public Policy Analysis, General Master's
- Mass Communication/Media Studies Doctorate (research)
- Speech Communication and Rhetoric Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Human Development and Family Studies, General Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Exercise Science and Kinesiology Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management, General Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Forensic Science and Technology Master's
- Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other Post-bachelor's certificate
- Terrorism and Counterterrorism Operations Post-bachelor's certificate
- History, General Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Forest Management/Forest Resources Management Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Natural Resources and Conservation, Other Master's
- Philosophy Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Nanotechnology Master's
Cost and aid
- Tuition and fees, in-state
- $20,234
- Tuition and fees, out-of-state
- $40,188
- Housing and food on campus
- $13,030
- Books and supplies
- $1,840
- Other on-campus costs
- $4,788
- Total cost on campus, in-state
- $39,892
- Total cost on campus, out-of-state
- $59,846
- Total cost living at home
- $26,178
Published prices for 2023-24.
| Family income | Per year |
|---|---|
| $0-30,000 | $19,458 |
| $30,001-48,000 | $19,743 |
| $48,001-75,000 | $26,257 |
| $75,001-110,000 | $33,579 |
| Over $110,000 | $37,209 |
Net price is the full cost minus grants and scholarships, for full-time first-year students who got aid in 2022-23 and paid in-state tuition.
- First-year students who got any aid
- 66%
- Got grants or scholarships
- 36%
- Average grant or scholarship
- $11,577
- Got a grant from the college
- 35%
- Average grant from the college
- $8,733
- Undergraduates with a Pell grant
- 13%
- First-year students who borrowed
- 45%
- Average amount borrowed
- $13,736
Graduation
- Bachelor's in 4 years
- 70%
- Bachelor's in 5 years
- 84%
- Bachelor's in 6 years
- 86%
- Bachelor's in 8 years
- 87%
- Any degree in 6 years (all students)
- 86%
- Came back for year two
- 92%
| Pell grant students | 78% |
|---|---|
| Subsidized loan, no Pell | 87% |
| Neither | 87% |
| Group | Students | Graduated |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 3,925 | 88% |
| Men | 3,903 | 83% |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 8 | 63% (small group) |
| Asian | 399 | 89% |
| Black | 309 | 70% |
| Hispanic | 636 | 78% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 8 | 100% (small group) |
| White | 5,312 | 88% |
| Two or more races | 404 | 84% |
| Race unknown | 122 | 92% |
| International | 630 | 81% |
| Started | Students | Earned a degree or certificate here | Enrolled at another college |
|---|---|---|---|
| Started here, full-time | 7,779 | 86% | 9% |
| Started here, part-time | 74 | 46% | 28% |
| Transferred in, full-time | 510 | 84% | 9% |
| Transferred in, part-time | 15 | 40% (small group) | 33% |
Graduation rates follow students who started full-time for the first time in fall 2017. Groups under 20 students are marked because a few students change the rate a lot.
Students
- Total students
- 50,399
- Undergraduates
- 42,223
- Full-time undergraduates
- 41,011
- Part-time undergraduates
- 1,212
- Graduate students
- 8,176
- Students per faculty member
- 15 to 1
- Undergraduates age 25 and up
- 2%
- Undergraduates taking all classes online
- 0%
- Undergraduates registered with disability services
- 8%
| Women | 47% |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 0% |
| Asian | 7% |
| Black | 5% |
| Hispanic | 9% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 0% |
| White | 63% |
| Two or more races | 4% |
| Race unknown | 2% |
| International | 10% |
Campus life
- Setting
- City: Small
- Address
- 201 Old Main, University Park, PA, 16802-1503
- County
- Centre County
- Part of
- The Pennsylvania State University
- Type
- Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity
- Highest degree
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship and professional practice
- Academic calendar
- Semester
- Athletics
- NCAA
- Teams include
- football, basketball, baseball, cross country and track
- Offers
- Army ROTC, Navy ROTC, Air Force ROTC, Study abroad, Undergraduate research, Teacher certification, Weekend or evening classes, Credit for AP exams, On-campus child care, Yellow Ribbon (veterans)
Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2022-23 to 2024-25 surveys), and the College Scorecard.