Pennsylvania State University-World Campus (Penn State)
Public four-year university in University Park, PA that costs an average of $12,651 a year after financial aid, admits 91% of applicants and graduates 51% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$12,651
Acceptance rate
91%
Graduation rate
51%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$71,762
PublicSmall city7,877 undergraduates
Cost of Penn State
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $21,968 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $15,510 |
| Books and supplies | $1,200 |
| Average net price after aid | $12,651 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $10,210 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $11,697 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $11,566 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $15,234 |
| $110,001+ | $20,395 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships (in-state students). Get your own estimate with Penn State's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 91% |
|---|---|
| Average SAT | 1,248 |
| SAT reading (25th–75th percentile) | 560–680 |
| SAT math (25th–75th percentile) | 530–655 |
| ACT composite (25th–75th percentile) | 26–32 |
| Test scores | Considered but not required |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 51% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 66% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $60,829 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $71,762 |
| Rank in Pennsylvania (earnings) | 49th of 113 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $24,500 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $278 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 38% |
| Students with federal loans | 43% |
Majors and programs at Penn State
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (51)
Certificate programs (25)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 31 | $95,718 | $18,750 |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 173 | $72,546 | $26,000 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | 41 | $65,324 | $26,000 |
| Plant Sciences | 96 | $62,775 | — |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other | 1 | $61,875 | $21,000 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 37 | $60,044 | $23,750 |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | 15 | $59,098 | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 8 | $53,216 | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 25 | $52,980 | $26,945 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 1 | $51,779 | $21,500 |
| Journalism | — | $42,179 | $25,125 |
| Accounting and Related Services | — | — | — |
| Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology | 87 | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 1 | — | — |
| Business/Commerce | 1 | — | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 7 | — | — |
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other | 1 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 29 | — | $27,000 |
| Geography and Environmental Studies | 1 | — | $19,500 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 1 | — | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 17 | — | — |
| Non-Professional Legal Studies | 1 | — | — |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 3 | — | — |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | — | — | — |
| Security Science and Technology | — | — | — |
Associate's degree programs (8)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services | 63 | $57,972 | $15,250 |
| Information Science/Studies | — | $49,860 | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 21 | $40,234 | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 64 | $39,818 | $16,000 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 30 | $38,145 | $19,500 |
| Business/Commerce | 108 | $38,044 | $13,687 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 66 | — | $19,948 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 16 | — | $16,625 |
Master's degree programs (43)
Professional degree programs (1)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 31 | — | — |
Graduate certificate programs (44)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geography and Cartography | 325 | $72,514 | $20,500 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 23 | — | — |
| Applied Mathematics | 3 | — | — |
| Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology | 3 | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 379 | — | — |
| Business/Commerce | 112 | — | — |
| Community Organization and Advocacy | — | — | — |
| Computational Science | — | — | — |
| Computer Engineering | 10 | — | — |
| Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 1 | — | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 6 | — | — |
| Data Analytics | 2 | — | — |
| Demography | 1 | — | — |
| Education | 29 | — | — |
| Education, Other | 12 | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 47 | — | — |
| Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research | 10 | — | — |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | 9 | — | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 4 | — | — |
| Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians | 20 | — | — |
| Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians | 25 | — | — |
| Engineering, Other | 54 | — | — |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | 48 | — | — |
| Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | — | — | — |
| Food Science and Technology | 9 | — | — |
| Homeland Security | 9 | — | — |
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other | 37 | — | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 17 | — | — |
| Industrial Engineering | 7 | — | — |
| Information Science/Studies | 70 | — | — |
| Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies | 1 | — | — |
| International/Globalization Studies | 1 | — | — |
| Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies | 1 | — | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 157 | — | — |
| Marketing | 28 | — | — |
| Natural Resources and Conservation, Other | — | — | — |
| Public Administration | 47 | — | — |
| Real Estate | 6 | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 5 | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | 19 | — | — |
| Statistics | 59 | — | — |
| Sustainability Studies | 2 | — | — |
| Taxation | 12 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | — | — | — |
Similar colleges in Pennsylvania
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Western University | California | $17,839 | 94% | $51,161 |
| Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | Slippery Rock | $19,972 | 71% | $57,995 |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania | Indiana | $17,391 | 91% | $57,182 |
| Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania | Bloomsburg | $17,468 | 93% | $56,416 |
| Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | Kutztown | $22,146 | 91% | $57,647 |
| Millersville University of Pennsylvania | Millersville | $18,817 | 86% | $58,443 |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | East Stroudsburg | $21,084 | 92% | $59,893 |
| West Chester University of Pennsylvania | West Chester | $24,778 | 78% | $66,629 |
About Penn State
| Type | Public four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | University Park, PA |
| Setting | Small city |
| Undergraduates | 7,877 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 16 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
| Website | worldcampus.psu.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is Penn State's acceptance rate?
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus admits 91% of applicants. Admitted students average 1,248 on the SAT.
How much does Penn State cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $21,968 a year (tuition and fees: $15,510). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $12,651 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $10,210.
How much do Penn State graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $71,762 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 49th of 113 similar colleges in Pennsylvania. The best-paid bachelor's program is computer engineering ($85,528 a year after graduation).
What is Penn State's graduation rate?
51% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 66% of first-year students return for a second year.