Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

https://www.psu.edu

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2024 Undergraduate Tuition

$20,066

2% growth from 2023

2024 Average Net Price

$27,889

After Financial Aid

2022 Default Rate

0.00659%

on Student Loans

2024 Acceptance Rate

60.6%

88,478 Applicants

2024 Enrolled Students

50,737

96.9% Full-Time

2024 Graduation Rate

86%

6,925 Graduates

About

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is a higher education institution located in Centre County, PA. In 2024, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus were General Finance (533 degrees awarded), General Psychology (512 degrees), and Information Science (427 degrees).

In 2024, 14,594 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus. 48.6% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 51.4% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (8,867 degrees), 8.81 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (1,007 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is $20,066, which is $−11,854 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

In 2022 the default rate for borrower's at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus was 0.00659%, corresponding to 1 out of the 15,170 total borrowers.

About the photo: Old Main (Front)

Photo by Padraic

Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

In 2024, the median undergraduate tuition at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is $20,066, which is $11,854 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $27,889.

In 2024, 50% of undergraduate students attending Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 40% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$20,066

2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus was $20,066. The cost of tuition at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is $−11,854 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$27,889

2024 Value

1.6%

1 Year Growth

In 2024 Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $27,889. Between 2023 and 2024, the average net price of Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus grew by 1.6%.

This chart compares the average net price of Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$13,239

Room and Board

$1,840

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus was of $13,239 in 2024. The cost of room and board increased by 1.96% between 2023 and 2024.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,840. The cost of books and supplies did not change during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

50%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

40%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

50% of undergraduate students at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus received financial aid through grants or loans in 2024. This represents a growth of 2.04% with respect to 2023, when 49% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

0.00659%

2022 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2022 the default rate for borrower's at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus was 0.00659%, which represents 1 out of the 15170 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus received 88,478 undergraduate applications in 2024, which represents a 2.93% annual growth. Out of those 88,478 applicants, 53,579 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 60.6% acceptance rate.

There were 50,737 students enrolled at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus in 2024. 31% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus has an overall enrollment yield of 17.1%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

60.6%

Acceptance Rate in 2024

53,579

Accepted Out of 88,478

In 2024, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus was 60.6% (53,579 admissions from 88,478 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2023, which was 54.2%. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of applicants grew by 2.93%, while admissions grew by 15%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

31%

Submission Percentage (2024)

2,848

Scores Submitted (2024)

31% of enrolled first-time students at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus in 2024 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus had a total enrollment of 50,737 students in 2024. The full-time enrollment at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is 49,151 students and the part-time enrollment is 1,586. This means that 96.9% of students enrolled at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus, both undergraduate and graduate, is 57.9% White, 8.66% Hispanic or Latino, 7.07% Asian, 4.33% Black or African American, 3.74% Two or More Races, 0.108% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0572% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Male (32.1%), followed by White Female (30.8%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (5.1%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (17%), followed by White Male (16.1%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (3.04%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

96.9%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus in 2024, both undergraduate and graduate, is 50,737 students. The full-time enrollment at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is 49,151 and the part-time enrollment is 1,586. This means that 96.9% of students enrolled at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus are enrolled full-time compared with 77.3% at similar Doctoral Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

93%

2024 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus was 93%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (82%), Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
29,392 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
4,396 enrolled students
Asian
3,589 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is 57.9% White, 8.66% Hispanic or Latino, 7.07% Asian, 4.33% Black or African American, 3.74% Two or More Races, 0.108% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0572% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 46.2% White, 16.3% Hispanic or Latino, and 10.4% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 1,639 students (3.23%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2024, 420 fewer women than men received degrees from Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is white (8,867 degrees awarded). There were 8.81 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (1,007 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is General Finance (533 degrees awarded), followed by General Psychology (512 degrees) and Information Science (427 degrees).

In 2024, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Engineering (2,180 degrees awarded), Physical Sciences (467 degrees), and Communications (899 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Software developers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus are Software developers (549,418 people), Other managers (519,590 people), Miscellaneous engineers, including nuclear engineers (394,172 people), Civil engineers (320,805 people), and Mechanical engineers (226,253 people).

The most specialized majors at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus in 2024 are Engineering (2,180 degrees awarded), Physical Sciences (467 degrees), Communications (899 degrees), Agriculture (449 degrees), and Architecture and Related Services (123 degrees) (as of 2024).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus are Surgeons, Cardiovascular technologists and technicians, Podiatrists, Physicians, and Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents

The most specialized majors at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus are Engineering (2,180 degrees awarded), Physical Sciences (467 degrees), Communications (899 degrees), Agriculture (449 degrees), and Architecture and Related Services (123 degrees) (as of 2024).

Common Industries by Major

Architectural, engineering & related services

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus are Architectural, engineering & related services (644,146 people), Computer Systems Design (639,694 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (462,124 people), Construction (419,328 people), and Elementary & secondary schools (343,726 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus.

Most Common (2024)

Computer & Information Systems Security
167 degrees awarded
Other Geological & Earth Sciences
12 degrees awarded
Judaic Studies
4 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common 1 to 2 year postsecondary certificate concentration at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus was Computer & Information Systems Security with 167 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from 1 to 2 year postsecondary certificate programs at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

7,507

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2024

7,087

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2024

In 2024, 7,507 degrees were awarded to men at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus, which is 1.06 times more than the number of degrees awarded to females (7,087).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2024, 400 degrees were awarded to men at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus in General Finance, which is 3.01 times more than the 133 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2024, 396 degrees were awarded to men at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus in General Psychology, which is 3.41 times more than the 116 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

69%

100% Completion Time

83%

150% Completion Time

In 2024, 69% of students graduating from Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 83% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 84% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

White Female

Highest Graduation Rate (92%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2024 at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is Female and White (92% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (75.5%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 1.79% of graduates (124 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
8,867 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
1,007 degrees awarded
Asian
991 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is white (8,867 degrees awarded). There were 8.81 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (1,007 degrees).

2.46% of degree recipients (359 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2024)

White Male
5,275 degrees awarded
White Male
5,090 degrees awarded
White Male
4,971 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is white male (5,275 degrees awarded). There were 1.04 times more white male recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (5,090 degrees).

Operations

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus has an endowment valued at nearly $4.75B, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 861M (18.1%) compared to the 9.4% average return (23.7M on 252M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2024, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus had a total salary expenditure of 8.55B. Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus employs 952 Instructors, 766 Professors and 446 Associate professors. Most academics at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus are Male Professor (564), Female Instructor (484), and Male Instructor (468).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus are: Computer, Engineering, and Science, with 2,165 employees, Business and Financial Operations, with 1,795 employees, and Service with 1,193 employees.

Endowment

$4.75B

2024 Endowment

7.27%

growth from 2023

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus has an endowment valued at about $4.75B, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The endowment of Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus grew 7.27% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $4.5B higher than than the median endowment of Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

Salary Expenditure

$3.98B

2024 Salaries

5.17%

growth from 2023

In 2024, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus paid a median of $3.98B in salaries, which represents 46.5% of their overall expenditure ($8.55B) and a 5.17% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 7.33% growth between 2022 and 2023, and a 23.5% growth between 2019 and 2022.

Instructional Salaries

$327M

Instructional Salaries

2,680

Number of Employees

In 2024, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus paid a total of $327M to 2,680 employees working as instructors, which represents 8.22% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $4.1M (2.29%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

In 2024, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus were Computer, Engineering, and Science with 2,165 employees, Business and Financial Operations with 1,795 employees, and Service with 1,193 employees.

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