Overview
Enrollment
Best Colleges Rank
| Location | University Park, Pennsylvania |
| Online | psu.edu |
| School Type | Public 4 Year |
| Setting | Small City |
| Size | Large |
| Status | Non-profit |
| On Campus Housing | Yes |
| Level of Study | Undergrad/Graduate |
Penn State's main campus in University Park is situated in central Pennsylvania's Nittany Valley, approximately 135 miles east of Pittsburgh and 190 miles west of Philadelphia. The 8,000-acre campus combines traditional collegiate Gothic architecture with modern academic facilities, centered around a core campus that serves as the academic and student life hub. Founded in 1855 as Pennsylvania's only land-grant institution, Penn State University Park operates as the flagship campus of the Penn State system and maintains competitive admission standards. The university offers more than 275 baccalaureate programs, with particular strengths in engineering, business, agriculture, and earth sciences, while most first-year students reside in one of the campus's multiple undergraduate housing complexes. As a member of the Big Ten Conference, Penn State fields Division I athletic teams known as the Nittany Lions, with its football program competing in the 106,572-seat Beaver Stadium.
Ratings
Overall
Academics
Resources
Outcomes
Value
Penn State is rated within the top 27% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 8 out of 10. Learn how ratings are calculated
Rankings
Rankings for Penn State Main Campus within the 2025 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.
#171 in Best Colleges in the U.S.
#37 in Best Public Colleges in the U.S.
#16 in Best Colleges in Pennsylvania
#2 in Best Public Colleges in Pennsylvania
#485 in Best Value Colleges in the U.S.
#44 in Best Value Colleges in Pennsylvania
View the CollegeSimply ranking methodology.
Getting In
Admission Standards
| SAT | 1220/1400 |
| ACT | 27/32 |
Applications Accepted
| Applications Due | - |
| Applicant Competition | Average |
| Application Fee | $65 |
Annual Cost to Attend
Pennsylvania Resident Tuition
| Fee | Cost |
|---|---|
| Books and Supplies | $1,840 |
| Other Fees | $562 |
| Room and Board | $13,030 |
| Budget for Other Expenses | $4,788 |
| Total One Year Cost | $39,892 |
Out of State Resident Tuition
| Fee | Cost |
|---|---|
| Books and Supplies | $1,840 |
| Other Fees | $562 |
| Room and Board | $13,030 |
| Budget for Other Expenses | $4,788 |
| Total One Year Cost | $59,846 |
Outcomes
Average Salary After 10 Years
Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate
Popular Areas of Study
| Subject | Percent of Class |
|---|---|
| Business | 16% |
| Engineering | 12% |
| Communication | 9% |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 7% |
| Social Sciences | 7% |
Other Colleges to Consider
Students considering Penn State are frequently interested in these similar colleges.
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=214777 IPEDS survey data for Penn State Main Campus.
Current students may use the Penn State Main Campus GPA calculator to determine their current college GPA.
Last updated February 24, 2025