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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.
The school has a greater breadth of degree programs (majors) than most colleges of its size. Penn State is known for its programs in science, media, engineering, and computer science and engineering.
The school does not offer open admission. Three quarters of students in 2007 had SAT verbal scores of at least 520. Half of math SAT scores of accepted students fell between 560 and 660. Many applicants are from out of state, an indication of the quality or special character of the school.
Penn State has a tenure system for senior faculty. The full-time faculty at the school is well-paid, which often goes with faculty quality.
Penn State had 43,252 enrolled students in 2007.
Full-time students are the norm at the school. Penn State offers dorm rooms to a higher percentage of its students than do most colleges. The school values student athletics, and belongs to the Big Ten Conference.
More complete details are provided below.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
201 Old Main
University Park, PA 16802-1589
General Phone: (814) 865-4700
http://www.psu.edu/
| General Category | Degrees | Most Common Majors [see all] |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering | 1,748 | mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering, industrial engineering, architectural engineering, aerospace engineering, chemical engineering, engineering mechanics, ... |
| Liberal Arts | 1,715 | Spanish language, English, history, economics, political science, international relations, geography, sociology, ... |
| Business And Management | 1,574 | finance, accounting, marketing, business management, organizational behavior, managerial economics, labor relations, MIS, ... |
| Science | 1,012 | biology, biological and physical sciences, biological and biomedical sciences, atmospheric sciences, chemistry, biochemistry, physics, geology, ... |
| Media | 901 | journalism, advertising, communication studies, communication and journalism, mass communication |
| Education And Teaching | 853 | elementary school teaching, secondary teaching, curriculum and instruction, special ed, adult education, art education, music teaching, adult ed administration, ... |
| Therapy And Counseling | 638 | psychology, communication disorders, school psychology, counseling psychology, educational psychology |
| Computer Science And Engineering | 598 | information science, computer and info science, computer engineering, computer science |
| Nutrition And Exercise Therapy | 422 | exercise science, parks and recreation management, rehabilitation, dietitian assistant, parks and recreation studies |
| Family And Social Work | 315 | family studies, human nutrition, community organization |
| Nursing And Emergency Medicine | 272 | registered nursing, various nursing |
| Security And Law Enforcement | 268 | criminal justice and administration, criminal justice and safety, forensic science |
| Hospitality | 215 | hospitality administration, hospitality management |
| Mathematics | 149 | mathematics, statistics |
| Landscaping And Horticulture | 146 | turf management, landscaping, horticultural science, soil science, agronomy, various plant science courses |
| Agricultural Science And Management | 142 | food science, agricultural operations, agricultural education, agricultural mechanization, agricultural economics, agriculture, agricultural business |
| Art Studies | 139 | art studies, visual and performing arts |
| Animal Science And Care | 122 | animal science, various animal sciences courses |
| Medical Administration | 107 | health care administration |
| Conservation And Resource Management | 100 | natural resources courses, forest sciences, conservation, forestry, forest technology |
| Religion And Philosophy | 95 | philosophy, religion, Jewish studies |
| Architecture And Planning | 92 | architecture, landscape architecture |
| Photography And Commercial Art | 71 | film studies |
| Drama And Performing Arts | 64 | acting, theatre design, drama |
| Music | 49 | music performance, music, voice, music theory and composition, musicology, conducting, music history and theory, piano |
| Medicine | 32 | pre-med |
| Fine Arts | 31 | art history and criticism |
| Science And Laboratory Technician | 29 | biology tech |
| Law | 23 | law, foreign lawyers, legal studies |
| Design | 23 | graphic design |
| Engineering Technician | 4 | environmental engineering tech, mechanical engineering tech |
Number of programs and degrees for Penn State in 2007:
| Degree Level | Total Awarded | Number of Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 9,604 | 124 |
| Master's degree | 1,131 | 104 |
| Doctor's degree | 646 | 88 |
| Award of less than 1 academic year | 479 | 21 |
| Associate's degree | 71 | 7 |
| First-professional degree | 18 | 1 |
In 2007, Penn State had a total enrollment of 43,252 students (41,817 full-time equivalent).
Students in the Freshman Class:
| Group | Percent |
|---|---|
| Men | 53% |
| Women | 47% |
| Full-Time | 100% |
| Part-Time | 0% |
Students By Class:
| Group | Percent |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 84% |
| Graduate | 16% |
| First Professional | 0% |
| Race | Percent |
|---|---|
| White | 80% |
| Black | 4% |
| Hispanic | 3% |
| Asian | 5% |
| American Indian | 0% |
| (Foreign Students) | 7% |
Students by Age:
| Age | Percent |
|---|---|
| Under 18 | 1% |
| 18-19 | 31% |
| 20-21 | 39% |
| 22-24 | 15% |
| 25-29 | 7% |
| 30-34 | 3% |
| 35-39 | 1% |
| 40-49 | 1% |
| 50-64 | 1% |
| 65+ | 0% |
Retention Rates (2007):
| Group | Returning From Previous Year |
|---|---|
| Full-Time | 94 % |
| Part-Time | 60 % |
Penn State offers campus housing for 13,399 of its 41,817 (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 | 34,813 | 20,181 | 58% | 8,039 | 40% |
| Men | 18,313 | 10,154 | 55% | 4,241 | 42% |
| Women | 16,500 | 10,027 | 61% | 3,798 | 38% |
Standardized Test Scores:
| Test | 25th Percentile | 75th Percetile |
|---|---|---|
| SAT Verbal | 520 | 620 |
| SAT Math | 560 | 660 |
| ACT Verbal | 23 | 29 |
| ACT Math | 23 | 29 |
| ACT Composite | 23 | 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 | 90% |
| Percent of Applicants Submitting ACT | 8% |
| TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) | required |
| Other Standardized Tests | not required |
Expenses and Financial Aid:
| Expense | Amount |
|---|---|
| In-state tuition and fees | $ 12,844 |
| Out-of-state tuition and fees | $ 23,712 |
| Room and board | $ 7,740 |
| Room charge | $ 3,820 |
| Board (meal plan) charge | $ 3,930 |
| Books and supplies | $ 1,168 |
| Other expenses | $ 3,456 |
Financial Aid:
Penn State participates in Federal Title IV financial aid programs. (The school's OPE ID is 332900)
Penn State has a tenure system for faculty.
Tenure Status of Faculty (2007):
| Full-Time Faculty Level | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Tenured | 984 | 340 |
| Non-tenured, but on tenure track | 214 | 173 |
| Non-tenured and not on tenure track | 819 | 541 |
Salaries for full-time faculty:
Full-Time Faculty (2007):
| Full-Time Faculty Level | Contract Length | Number Men | Avg Salary Men | Number Women | Avg Salary Women |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professor | calendar year | 21 | $124,320 | 11 | $99,536 |
| Associate professor | calendar year | 31 | $74,512 | 26 | $71,498 |
| Assistant professor | calendar year | 56 | $66,115 | 43 | $58,121 |
| Instructor | calendar year | 49 | $59,446 | 55 | $48,443 |
| Lecturer | calendar year | 48 | $62,823 | 25 | $58,052 |
| All faculty total | calendar year | 205 | $70,982 | 160 | $59,804 |
*: salaries are not displayed where there are fewer than 3 professors in the category.
Full-Time Faculty (2007):
| Full-Time Faculty Level | Contract Length | Number Men | Avg Salary Men | Number Women | Avg Salary Women |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professor | academic year | 565 | $125,599 | 128 | $111,816 |
| Associate professor | academic year | 299 | $86,671 | 165 | $81,783 |
| Assistant professor | academic year | 219 | $71,424 | 203 | $66,251 |
| Instructor | academic year | 45 | $48,428 | 87 | $42,199 |
| Lecturer | academic year | 122 | $47,272 | 131 | $38,172 |
| All faculty total | academic year | 1,250 | $96,373 | 714 | $69,926 |
*: salaries are not displayed where there are fewer than 3 professors in the category.
Athletic Conferences:
| Sport | Conference |
|---|---|
| Football | Big Ten Conference |
| Basketball | Big Ten Conference |
| Baseball | Big Ten Conference |
| Track | Big Ten Conference |
Students on Athletic Scholarships (2007):
| Sport | Men | Women | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 290 | 193 | 483 |
| Football | 90 | 0 | 90 |
| Track | 23 | 24 | 47 |
| Baseball | 28 | 0 | 28 |
| Basketball | 13 | 12 | 25 |
| All Other Sports | 136 | 157 | 293 |
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
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
COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
Computer Engineering, General
Computer Science
Computer and Information Sciences, General
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
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
Foreign Language 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, General
Engineering, Other
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
Industrial Engineering
Materials Engineering
Materials Science
Mechanical Engineering
Mining and Mineral Engineering
Nuclear Engineering
Petroleum Engineering
Surveying Engineering
ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN
Environmental Engineering Technology/Environmental Technology
Mechanical Engineering/Mechanical Technology/Technician
FAMILY AND SOCIAL WORK
Community Organization and Advocacy
Human Development and Family Studies, General
Human Nutrition
FINE ARTS
Art History, Criticism and Conservation
HOSPITALITY
Hospitality Administration/Management, General
Hospitality Administration/Management, Other
LANDSCAPING AND HORTICULTURE
Agronomy and Crop Science
Horticultural Science
Landscaping and Groundskeeping
Plant Sciences, Other
Soil Science and Agronomy, General
Turf and Turfgrass Management
LAW
Law (LLB, JD)
Legal Studies, General
Programs for Foreign Lawyers (LLM, MCL)
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
Linguistics
Medieval and Renaissance Studies
Near and Middle Eastern Studies
Political Science and Government, General
Russian Language and Literature
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 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
Musicology and Ethnomusicology
Piano and Organ
Voice and Opera
NURSING AND EMERGENCY MEDICINE
Nursing, Other
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
PHOTOGRAPHY AND COMMERCIAL ART
Film/Cinema Studies
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
Toxicology
SCIENCE AND LABORATORY TECHNICIAN
Biology Technician/Biotechnology Laboratory Technician
SECURITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration
Criminal Justice/Safety Studies
Forensic Science and Technology
THERAPY AND COUNSELING
Communication Disorders, General
Counseling Psychology
Educational 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 6% | |
| % of degrees in engineering (vs. all colleges) | Top 9% | |
| Faculty/student ratio (full-time) (vs. colleges of similar size) | Top 10% | |
| % of degrees in media (vs. all colleges) | Top 14% | |
| Male % of student body (vs. all colleges) | Top 15% | |
| Degrees concentrated in limited number of degree programs (vs. all colleges) | Top 15% | |
| Student SAT scores (vs. all colleges) | Top 16% | |
| % of degrees in nutrition and exercise therapy (vs. colleges of similar size) | Top 17% | |
| % of degrees in science (vs. colleges with similar degree levels) | Top 18% | |
| Dorm rooms per full-time student (vs. all colleges) | Top 18% | |
| % of degrees in computer science and engineering (vs. colleges with similar degree levels) | Top 20% | |
Notable:
Accepts some high school credits Offers credit for life experience Grants credits for AP courses Offers distance learning Offers weekend classes Career counseling Career services Student employment services On-campus day care Remedial classes for students Option to study abroad 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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(Based on an automated mapping of degrees popular at Penn State with government-defined occupation categories)
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Information is not guaranteed to be correct. Please check with individual schools for the most accurate and recent information.
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