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Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State, is a land-grant, state-related public research university. It was established in 1855, with the main campus located in University Park. This campus offers enrollment to more than 30,000 undergraduate students and over 6,000 graduate students. There are 13 colleges at the University Park campus:
The Penn State’s main campus offers a staggering number of undergraduate and graduate degrees, apart from continuing education and distance education programs. Quite a few research options are also available for the students.
The sports teams of Pennsylvania State University wear the official colors of blue and white, and the mascot is the Nittany Lion. There are men’s and women’s teams in baseball, basketball, cross-country, football, golf, fencing, gymnastics, lacrosse, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, softball, wrestling, and field hockey.
Penn State is in a small city, in State College, Pennsylvania. The school is classified as a public college. Students at Penn State earn degrees up to the Doctoral degree.
There are more programs of study at the school than you'll find at most colleges of similar size. The most common major fields study at Penn State include media and engineering.
The school does not admit all applicants. The middle range of verbal SAT scores in 2005 was 530 to 630 for students at Penn State. While math SAT scores among applicants varied, those accepted commonly had scores between 560 and 660. The school attracts a fair number of students from out of state.
Some professors at Penn State are awarded tenure, allowing the school to retain good faculty members. Faculty salaries at the school are higher than most.
Penn State, in 2005, had 40,709 students (39,207 full-time equivalent).
Most students at the school attend full-time. Dorm living is common. Athletic teams at the school belong to the Big Ten Conference for major sports.
More complete details are provided below.
Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus
201 Old Main
University Park, PA 16802-1589
General Phone: (814) 865-4700
Admissions Phone: (814) 865-5471
Financial Aid Phone: (814) 865-6301
http://www.psu.edu/
Penn State awarded degrees in these major categories in 2005:
| General Category | Degrees | Most Common Majors [see all] |
|---|---|---|
| Business And Management | 2,119 | finance, marketing, accounting, business management, organizational behavior, logistics, managerial economics, labor relations, ... |
| Engineering | 1,736 | mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering, industrial engineering, architectural engineering, chemical engineering, aerospace engineering, engineering mechanics, ... |
| Liberal Arts | 1,669 | English, Spanish language, political science, economics, history, women's studies, international relations, sociology, ... |
| Media | 970 | advertising, journalism, communication and journalism, communication studies, mass communication |
| Science | 882 | biology, biological and biomedical sciences, biological and physical sciences, chemistry, atmospheric sciences, biochemistry, physics, bacteriology, ... |
| Education And Teaching | 871 | elementary school teaching, secondary teaching, curriculum and instruction, special ed, art education, adult education, music teaching, school counseling, ... |
| Therapy And Counseling | 619 | psychology, communication disorders, school psychology, educational psychology, family psychology, counseling psychology |
| Computer Science And Engineering | 616 | information science, computer and info science, computer engineering, computer science, computer networking, database administration |
| Nutrition And Exercise Therapy | 416 | exercise science, parks and recreation management, rehabilitation, parks and recreation studies, dietitian assistant |
| Family And Social Work | 292 | family studies, human nutrition, foodservice management, community organization |
| Security And Law Enforcement | 284 | criminal justice and administration, criminal justice and safety |
| Nursing And Emergency Medicine | 273 | registered nursing, nursing administration |
| Hospitality | 211 | hospitality administration |
| Art Studies | 164 | art studies, visual and performing arts |
| Mathematics | 138 | mathematics, statistics |
| Conservation And Resource Management | 135 | natural resources courses, forest sciences, conservation, forestry, forest technology, wildlife management |
| Agricultural Science And Management | 131 | agricultural operations, food science, agricultural education, agriculture, agricultural mechanization, agricultural economics, agricultural business |
| Landscaping And Horticulture | 108 | turf management, landscaping, horticultural science, agronomy, soil science |
| Animal Science And Care | 102 | animal science, various animal sciences courses |
| Architecture And Planning | 86 | architecture, landscape architecture |
| Medical Adminstration | 84 | health care administration, health services administration |
| Religion And Philosophy | 74 | philosophy, religion, Jewish studies |
| Photography And Commercial Art | 71 | film studies |
| Engineering Technician | 62 | CAD and design, manufacturing tech, quality control tech, environmental engineering tech, mechanical engineering tech, electronics tech, architectural engineering tech |
| Music | 45 | music, music performance, conducting, music history and theory, music theory and composition, piano |
| Medicine | 35 | pre-med |
| Drama And Performing Arts | 32 | acting, theatre design, drama |
| Fine Arts | 27 | art history and criticism |
| Law | 23 | legal assistant, health tax |
| Science And Laboratory Technician | 22 | biology tech |
| Real Estate And Construction Management | 19 | real estate |
| Design | 11 | graphic design |
| Office And Administration | 4 | data entry, administrative assistant, office management |
Number of programs and degrees for Penn State in 2005:
| Degree Level | Total Awarded | Number of Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 9,840 | 124 |
| Master's degree | 1,191 | 102 |
| Award of less than 1 academic year | 620 | 40 |
| Doctor's degree | 571 | 84 |
| Associate's degree | 90 | 11 |
| Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 11 | 4 |
| Postbaccalaureate certificate | 8 | 1 |
In 2005, Penn State had a total enrollment of 40,709 students (39,207 full-time equivalent).
Students in the Freshman Class (2005):
| Group | Percent |
|---|---|
| Men | 51% |
| Women | 49% |
| Full-Time | 100% |
| Part-Time | 0% |
More details are available, using 2004 data:
Students By Class (2004):
| Group | Percent |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 82% |
| Graduate | 18% |
| Race | Percent |
|---|---|
| White | 80% |
| Black | 4% |
| Hispanic | 3% |
| Asian | 5% |
| American Indian | 0% |
| (Foreign Students) | 8% |
Incoming (Freshman) Students by Place of Residence (2004):
(From available data sampling)
| Residence | Percent |
|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 68% |
| New Jersey | 9% |
| New York | 6% |
| Maryland | 4% |
| Foreign countries | 2% |
| Virginia | 1% |
| Connecticut | 1% |
| Massachusetts | 1% |
| Ohio | 1% |
| California | 1% |
| Illinois | 1% |
| Florida | 1% |
Retention Rates (2004):
| Group | Returning From Previous Year |
|---|---|
| Full-Time | 92 % |
Penn State offers campus housing for 13,302 of its 39,207 (full-time) students. Freshmen are required to live on campus.
(Please refer to our profile of State College, Pennsylvania for details about the area surrounding the campus. Also see our list of other Pennsylvania Colleges).
The school does not offer students a meal plan.
Acceptances:
| Group | Applicants | Accepted | Percent Accepted | Enrolled | Percent of Accepted Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 30,122 | 17,551 | 58% | 5,907 | 34% |
| Men | 15,726 | 8,643 | 55% | 3,021 | 35% |
| Women | 14,396 | 8,908 | 62% | 2,886 | 32% |
Standardized Test Scores:
| Test | 25th Percentile | 75th Percetile |
|---|---|---|
| SAT Verbal | 530 | 630 |
| SAT Math | 560 | 660 |
| ACT Composite | 24 | 28 |
Application Requirements:
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| GPA | required |
| Class Rank | recommended |
| High School Record | required |
| College Prep Program | recommended |
| Recommendations | not required |
| Formal Demonstration of Competence | not required |
| Standardized Tests (SAT and/or ACT) | required |
| Percent of Applicants Submitting SAT | 96% |
| Percent of Applicants Submitting ACT | 12% |
| TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) | required |
| Other Standardized Tests | not required |
Admissions Phone Number: (814) 865-5471
Expenses and Financial Aid:
| Expense | Amount |
|---|---|
| In-state tuition and fees | $ 11,508 |
| Out-of-state tuition and fees | $ 21,744 |
| Room and board | $ 7,092 |
| Room charge | $ 3,430 |
| Board (meal plan) charge | $ 3,630 |
| Books and supplies | $ 1,040 |
| Other expenses | $ 2,394 |
Financial Aid:
Penn State participates in Federal Title IV financial aid programs. (The school's OPE ID is 332900)
Financial Aid Phone Number: (814) 865-6301
Penn State has a tenure system for faculty.
Tenure Status of Faculty (2004):
| Full-Time Faculty Level | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Tenured | 978 | 298 |
| Non-tenured, but on tenure track | 268 | 175 |
| Non-tenured and not on tenure track | 779 | 479 |
Salaries for full-time faculty:
Full-Time Faculty (2004):
| Full-Time Faculty Level | Contract Length | Number Men | Avg Salary Men | Number Women | Avg Salary Women |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professor | calendar year | 50 | $162,523 | 4 | $135,213 |
| Associate professor | calendar year | 17 | $89,187 | 5 | $98,849 |
| Assistant professor | calendar year | 19 | $67,449 | 10 | $60,368 |
| Instructor | calendar year | 45 | $55,640 | 43 | $44,145 |
| Lecturer | calendar year | 34 | $65,176 | 22 | $46,564 |
| No academic rank | calendar year | 85 | $50,544 | 70 | $44,691 |
| All faculty total | calendar year | 250 | $79,759 | 154 | $49,934 |
*: salaries are not displayed where there are fewer than 3 professors in the category.
Full-Time Faculty (2004):
| Full-Time Faculty Level | Contract Length | Number Men | Avg Salary Men | Number Women | Avg Salary Women |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professor | academic year | 566 | $112,241 | 102 | $104,559 |
| Associate professor | academic year | 320 | $77,302 | 160 | $71,740 |
| Assistant professor | academic year | 216 | $67,903 | 165 | $60,899 |
| Instructor | academic year | 36 | $44,704 | 71 | $39,761 |
| Lecturer | academic year | 59 | $41,912 | 84 | $36,724 |
| No academic rank | academic year | 10 | $44,809 | 8 | $41,322 |
| All faculty total | academic year | 1,207 | $89,032 | 590 | $65,136 |
*: salaries are not displayed where there are fewer than 3 professors in the category.
Full-Time Faculty (2004):
| Full-Time Faculty Level | Contract Length | Number Men | Avg Salary Men | Number Women | Avg Salary Women |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Associate professor | short term | 0 | * | 1 | * |
| Assistant professor | short term | 1 | * | 0 | * |
| Instructor | short term | 5 | $41,588 | 2 | * |
| Lecturer | short term | 0 | * | 2 | * |
| No academic rank | short term | 4 | $30,544 | 2 | * |
| All faculty total | short term | 10 | $37,254 | 7 | $36,666 |
*: salaries are not displayed where there are fewer than 3 professors in the category.
Athletic Conferences (2005):
| Sport | Conference |
|---|---|
| Football | Big Ten Conference |
| Basketball | Big Ten Conference |
| Baseball | Big Ten Conference |
| Track | Big Ten Conference |
Students on Athletic Scholarships (2004):
| Sport | Men | Women | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 294 | 195 | 489 |
| Football | 91 | 0 | 91 |
| Track | 21 | 26 | 47 |
| Baseball | 29 | 0 | 29 |
| Basketball | 13 | 12 | 25 |
| All Other Sports | 140 | 157 | 297 |
AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT
Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations
Agricultural Business and Management, Other
Agricultural Economics
Agricultural Mechanization, General
Agricultural and Extension Education Services
Agriculture, General
Food Science
ANIMAL SCIENCE AND CARE
Animal Sciences, General
Animal Sciences, Other
ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING
Architecture (BArch, BA/BS, MArch, MA/MS, PhD)
Landscape Architecture (BS, BSLA, BLA, MSLA, MLA, PhD)
ART STUDIES
Art/Art Studies, General
Visual and Performing Arts, General
BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT
Accounting
Actuarial Science
Business Administration and Management, General
Business/Commerce, General
Business/Managerial Economics
Finance, General
Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General
Insurance
International Business/Trade/Commerce
Labor and Industrial Relations
Logistics and Materials Management
Management Information Systems, General
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other
Marketing/Marketing Management, General
Organizational Behavior Studies
Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management
Small Business Administration/Management
COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
Computer Engineering, General
Computer Science
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
Computer and Information Sciences, General
Data Modeling/Warehousing and Database Administration
Information Science/Studies
CONSERVATION AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Forest Sciences and Biology
Forest Technology/Technician
Forestry, General
Natural Resources and Conservation, Other
Natural Resources/Conservation, General
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management
DRAMA AND PERFORMING ARTS
Acting
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General
Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology
EDUCATION AND TEACHING
Adult and Continuing Education Administration
Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching
Art Teacher Education
College Student Counseling and Personnel Services
Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
Curriculum and Instruction
Educational Evaluation and Research
Educational Leadership and Administration, General
Educational/Instructional Media Design
Elementary Education and Teaching
Health Teacher Education
Higher Education/Higher Education Administration
Music Teacher Education
Secondary Education and Teaching
Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education
Special Education and Teaching, General
Teaching English as Second/Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor
ENGINEERING
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
Agricultural/Biological Engineering and Bioengineering
Archeology
Architectural Engineering
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering, General
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
Engineering Mechanics
Engineering Science
Engineering, Other
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
Industrial Engineering
Materials Engineering
Materials Science
Mechanical Engineering
Mining and Mineral Engineering
Nuclear Engineering
Petroleum Engineering
ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN
Architectural Engineering Technology/Technician
CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician
Electrical/Electronic/Communications Engr Technology/Technician
Environmental Engineering Technology/Environmental Technology
Manufacturing Technology/Technician
Mechanical Engineering/Mechanical Technology/Technician
Quality Control Technology/Technician
FAMILY AND SOCIAL WORK
Community Organization and Advocacy
Foodservice Systems Administration/Management
Human Development and Family Studies, General
Human Nutrition
FINE ARTS
Art History, Criticism and Conservation
HOSPITALITY
Hospitality Administration/Management, Other
LANDSCAPING AND HORTICULTURE
Agronomy and Crop Science
Horticultural Science
Landscaping and Groundskeeping
Soil Science and Agronomy, General
Turf and Turfgrass Management
LAW
Health Law (LLM, MJ, JSD/SJD)
Legal Assistant/Paralegal
LIBERAL ARTS
African Studies
African-American/Black Studies
American/United States Studies/Civilization
Anthropology
Applied Economics
Chinese Language and Literature
Classics/Classical Languages, Lit & Linguistics, General
Comparative Literature
East Asian Studies
Economics, General
English Language and Literature, General
French Language and Literature
Geography
German Language and Literature
History, General
International Relations and Affairs
Italian Language and Literature
Japanese Language and Literature
Latin American Studies
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
Medieval and Renaissance Studies
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
Near and Middle Eastern Studies
Political Science and Government, General
Russian Language and Literature
Russian Studies
Social Sciences, Other
Sociology
Spanish Language and Literature
Technical and Business Writing
Women's Studies
MATHEMATICS
Mathematics, General
Statistics, General
MEDIA
Advertising
Communication Studies/Speech Communication and Rhetoric
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other
Journalism
Mass Communication/Media Studies
MEDICAL ADMINSTRATION
Health Services Administration
Health/Health Care Administration/Management
MEDICINE
Pre-Medicine/Pre-Medical Studies
MUSIC
Conducting
Music History, Literature, and Theory
Music Performance, General
Music Theory and Composition
Music, General
Piano and Organ
NURSING AND EMERGENCY MEDICINE
Nursing Administration (MSN, MS, PhD)
Nursing/Registered Nurse (RN, ASN, BSN, MSN)
NUTRITION AND EXERCISE THERAPY
Dietitian Assistant
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions, Other
OFFICE AND ADMINISTRATION
Administrative Assistant and Secretarial Science, General
Data Entry/Microcomputer Applications, General
Office Management and Supervision
PHOTOGRAPHY AND COMMERCIAL ART
Film/Cinema Studies
REAL ESTATE AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
Real Estate
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
Jewish/Judaic Studies
Philosophy
Religion/Religious Studies
SCIENCE
Acoustics
Animal Physiology
Astronomy
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, General
Biochemistry
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other
Biological and Physical Sciences
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Biotechnology
Chemistry, General
Ecology
Entomology
Genetics, General
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences, Other
Geology/Earth Science, General
Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology
Oceanography, Chemical and Physical
Pathology/Experimental Pathology
Physical Sciences, Other
Physics, General
Plant Pathology/Phytopathology
Plant Physiology
Science, Technology and Society
SCIENCE AND LABORATORY TECHNICIAN
Biology Technician/Biotechnology Laboratory Technician
SECURITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration
Criminal Justice/Safety Studies
THERAPY AND COUNSELING
Communication Disorders, General
Counseling Psychology
Educational Psychology
Family Psychology
Psychology, General
School Psychology
(Details are provided further down on this page.)
What Sets Penn State Apart:
| Category | Trophy | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of degree programs (vs. all colleges) | Top 1% |  |
| Number of students (vs. all colleges) | Top 1% | |
| Salaries of full-time faculty (vs. all colleges) | Top 5% | |
| Faculty/student ratio (full-time) (vs. colleges of similar size) | Top 9% | |
| % of degrees in engineering (vs. all colleges) | Top 10% | |
| % of degrees in media (vs. all colleges) | Top 13% | |
| % of degrees in nutrition and exercise therapy (vs. colleges of similar size) | Top 15% | |
| Student SAT scores (vs. all colleges) | Top 17% | |
| Male % of student body (vs. all colleges) | Top 17% | |
| % of students from other states (vs. all colleges) | Top 18% | |
| % of degrees in science (vs. colleges of similar size) | Top 18% | |
| Dorm rooms per full-time student (vs. all colleges) | Top 19% | |
| % of degrees in hospitality (vs. colleges of similar size) | Top 19% | |
| Degrees concentrated in limited number of degree programs (vs. all colleges) | Top 20% | |
| % of degrees in computer science and engineering (vs. colleges of similar size) | Top 20% | |
Notable:
Accepts some high school credits Grants credits for AP courses Offers distance learning Career counseling Career placement services Student employment services On-campus day care Remedial classes for students Option to study abroad Offers campus housing Offers part-time study On-campus library Offers campus housing Tenure system for quality teaching Has ROTC (army, navy, air force) Offers athletic scholarships Has hospital on campus NCAA athletic conference member
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