Penn State

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Penn State at a Glance

Location:
University Park, PA
Setting:
Small city
Control:
Public
In-State Tuition:
$15,250
Out-of-State Tuition:
$25,946
Room & Board:
$9,054
Full-Time Undergrads:
36,749
Part-Time Undergrads:
1,239
More statistics . . .
School Website:
www.psu.edu
Admissions Website:
admissions.psu.edu
Financial Aid Website:
www.psu.edu/studentaid
Application Deadline:
Rolling
Acceptance Rate:
52 %
Admission Difficulty:
Average
Average SAT Scores:
1630–1940
Average ACT Scores:
25–29

Best Things

  • Academics balanced with partying
  • Enormous school spirit
  • Penn State football: “The Greatest Show in College Sports” – Sports Illustrated
  • The beautiful central Pennsylvania surroundings
  • More best things . . .

Worst Things

  • Isolated rural location
  • Sparse, expensive, and difficult parking
  • Frigid winters
  • Lack of diversity
  • More worst things . . .

Most Popular Majors

  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Social Sciences & Liberal Arts
  • Communications
  • More majors . . .

Overall ExperienceWhat's This?

Despite common reservations about the location and climate, most Penn State students are fiercely loyal to their alma mater. Penn State boasts one of the largest alumni populations in the United States; graduates are proud of their degrees, and employers recognize the University’s name immediately. Although the campus is located in a very rural area, school is technologically up-to-date and on the cutting-edge of current research.

Aside from academics, PSU is also known for its social scene, especially in relation to sports and parties. Nittany Lion football—home of the 2008 Big Ten Champions—is a national draw and a point of pride for both the University and the town of State College. For anyone interested in playing or watching varsity sports, PSU is a top choice. Penn State has also been ranked highly by many polls and “party school” surveys as one of the top party schools in the nation. While it certainly isn’t the wildest town, these rankings are definitely accurate. The small-town setting and large-school atmosphere makes for little else in the way of entertainment, so it can be hard to avoid encountering the party scene during your time as a student. Still, the mix of work and leisure seems to work well for most of the student body, and academic standards at Penn State remain relatively high. It’s easy to spend four years at Penn State as an ever-serious student, focused completely on whatever you choose to study. With so many opportunities to relax nearby, balance and moderation are some of the best skills to learn from your four years in college.

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Penn State Campus Tour Video

Penn State Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Scholarships at Penn State

adf5152

Information Technology '15

1.5
D+

None.

The school sponsored scholarships like most schools, is very slim.

The biggest (only) real hope is the Bunton Waller scholarship, which has a salary cap. It is also restricted to underrepresented minorities.

May 27, 2012

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Campus Housing at Penn State

adf5152

Information Technology '15

3.1
B-

It All Depends on the Residence Hal.

Best - Worst

West, South, North, East.

East Halls Suck. Overall, they're quite fair.

May 27, 2012

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Guys & Girls at Penn State

adf5152

Information Technology '15

3.8
B+

Women

The girls out here are great. Forewarning, you'll find basically every kind of girl out here at Penn State. Take that with a grain of salt ;)

May 27, 2012

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User rating for Penn State is 3.5 out of 5 based on 1417 user reviews.

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Most Recent Student Author View all

Name
James Bunting
Hometown
Whitehall, PA
Major
Journalism

College Prowler is seeking talented student authors to assist with writing and updating the College Prowler guides to their schools. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain experience and tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college.

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