Penn State - Safety & Security

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

Overall, Penn State is a very safe campus. The students tend to get a bad rap when a high profile crime occurs, like a sexual assault or a fight involving an athlete. But when you consider there are over 40,000 students here, plus hundreds of visitors each weekend, the number of crimes is miniscule. Most students have no problem walking the streets of State College at night. As long as you don’t look for trouble, trouble will rarely find you.

There are well-placed blue-light emergency phones around campus, and the student police services are friendly and helpful at all hours. At night, however, there are few police patrolling the campus. The presence of the State College police is strongly felt downtown, especially during the weekends. Police cars patrol the streets looking for blatantly drunk kids and out-of-control parties. Although the local police seem overbearing at times, with officers in cars, on foot, or riding horses down the streets, it’s important to remember that they are concerned about everyone’s safety. On home football weekends, the population nearly doubles from the influx of fans and tourists, so students are not the only concern of patrolling officers.

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Students Speak Out

PSULS says: Penn State 2014 Transportation and Materials Moving

I feel safer at Penn State than I... I feel safer at Penn State than I do anywhere else. Being a female, I have walked home at 4 a.m. by myself and felt 100 percent safe. It's a college town, so it's mostly only students who roam the streets at night. 12345 Safety & Security: February 23, 2009 Report

PSUJD says: Penn State 2013 Communication and Journalism

I always feel safe on campus, even... I always feel safe on campus, even at night. PSU has emergency call stations in many parts of the campus for any assistance, plus there is an escort service if you're out late and walking by yourself. 12345 Safety & Security: February 20, 2009 Report

Anonymous says:

You need to use your ID card to... You need to use your ID card to get into the dorms, and they only work at the dorm where you live. If you don’t live there, your friend’s supposed to let you in and be with you all the time, but that usually doesn’t happen. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Anonymous says:

Campus is pretty secure. I don’t... Campus is pretty secure. I don’t know if that’s because the University tries to make it safe with things like security guards and blue-light phones, or if I feel safe since no matter what time of night you are out, there are always people walking around. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Anonymous says:

Security and safety are great... Security and safety are great here. They don’t seem to skimp on it. If you need an escort home, they’ll provide one for you. If they can’t, they’ll call a cab to pick you up (and they’ll pay for it, too). Campus police walk the campus checking up on the security of all the buildings. All the dorms are locked down, and only the people who live there can get in. Guests have to be escorted. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Did You Know?

The police officers at University Park campus:
• Have a bachelor’s degree in social services.
• Have completed the training course required of all municipal police officers in PA.
• Take 90 to 100 hours of in-service training each year.
• The CQ Press’s 2008 City Crime Rankings placed State College as the second safest metropolitan area in the nation.

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