Colleges / Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
College · Public · University Park, PA · City
PSU

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

University Park, PA

Address201 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802-1503
Websitewww.psu.edu
Price calculatorRun your numbers →
Admit rate61%
6-yr median pay$56k
Net price / yr$33k
Undergrad size42,284
§ I · The real read

What it's actually like.

The bet

Net price of $33k/yr for a shot at a $56k first-5-year salary. Math out whether that works for you — it does for some people, not for others.

Getting in

Admit rate of 61% means this is workable if your grades and essays are solid. Admitted students average SAT 1337.

If you get in

42,284 undergrads. Big. You will have to make it feel small yourself.

Where you live

City campus — public transit, off-campus food, weekends happen nearby.

§ II · Cost & aid

Sticker vs. real.

Sticker cost of attendance is $40k/yr. After need-based aid, the average student pays $33k/yr. Merit aid varies. Run your EFC calculator before you rule anything out.

Sticker · 4 yrs$159k
Before any aid.
Net · 4 yrs$132k
What the average student pays.
Typical aid$27k
Difference over 4 years — higher for lower-income households.
Payback2.4x
4-yr net price ÷ first-5-year salary. Lower is better.

Where the money goes · annual sticker.

Tuition · in-state
$20.6k
Tuition · out-of-state
$41.8k
Room & board
$14.5k
Books & supplies
$1,200

How students pay for it.

Pell grants14%
Share of undergrads on federal Pell grants.
Federal loans40%
Share taking out federal student loans.
Median debt · grads$25k
What the median student owes at graduation. Non-completers: $10k.
3-yr default0%
Low — grads tend to pay on time.
§ III · Outcomes

Do people finish? Do they land?

1-yr retention92%
Very high — students stay.
Graduation · 6 yr86%
Most finish on time.
6-yr median pay$56k
Cross-major. Your major's number can be very different.
10-yr median pay$63k
Ten years out — where grads tend to land career-wise.
Transfer out2%
Share of full-time students who transfer to another school.
§ IV · Campus & identity

Setting, size, and who this school is.

Setting
City
Control
Public
Undergrad size
42,284
Location
University Park, PA
Region
Mid East (DE, DC, MD, NJ, NY, PA)
Carnegie class
Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity (R1)
Accreditor
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Also known as
Penn State
§ · Who studies here

The student body at a glance.

  • White63%
  • Hispanic9%
  • International9%
  • Asian8%
  • Black5%
  • Two or more races4%
  • Unknown2%
First-gen students29%
Share whose parents didn't complete college.
Part-time2%
Mostly a full-time student body.
Veterans0%
Share using veteran education benefits.
Median family income$62k
Of enrolled students' households — useful for aid context.
§ V · Majors offered here · 141

What you can study.

Colleges / Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
College · Public · University Park, PA · City
PSU

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

University Park, PA

Address201 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802-1503
Websitewww.psu.edu
Price calculatorRun your numbers →
Admit rate61%
6-yr median pay$56k
Net price / yr$33k
Undergrad size42,284
§ I · The real read

What it's actually like.

The bet

Net price of $33k/yr for a shot at a $56k first-5-year salary. Math out whether that works for you — it does for some people, not for others.

Getting in

Admit rate of 61% means this is workable if your grades and essays are solid. Admitted students average SAT 1337.

If you get in

42,284 undergrads. Big. You will have to make it feel small yourself.

Where you live

City campus — public transit, off-campus food, weekends happen nearby.

§ II · Cost & aid

Sticker vs. real.

Sticker cost of attendance is $40k/yr. After need-based aid, the average student pays $33k/yr. Merit aid varies. Run your EFC calculator before you rule anything out.

Sticker · 4 yrs$159k
Before any aid.
Net · 4 yrs$132k
What the average student pays.
Typical aid$27k
Difference over 4 years — higher for lower-income households.
Payback2.4x
4-yr net price ÷ first-5-year salary. Lower is better.

Where the money goes · annual sticker.

Tuition · in-state
$20.6k
Tuition · out-of-state
$41.8k
Room & board
$14.5k
Books & supplies
$1,200

How students pay for it.

Pell grants14%
Share of undergrads on federal Pell grants.
Federal loans40%
Share taking out federal student loans.
Median debt · grads$25k
What the median student owes at graduation. Non-completers: $10k.
3-yr default0%
Low — grads tend to pay on time.
§ III · Outcomes

Do people finish? Do they land?

1-yr retention92%
Very high — students stay.
Graduation · 6 yr86%
Most finish on time.
6-yr median pay$56k
Cross-major. Your major's number can be very different.
10-yr median pay$63k
Ten years out — where grads tend to land career-wise.
Transfer out2%
Share of full-time students who transfer to another school.
§ IV · Campus & identity

Setting, size, and who this school is.

Setting
City
Control
Public
Undergrad size
42,284
Location
University Park, PA
Region
Mid East (DE, DC, MD, NJ, NY, PA)
Carnegie class
Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity (R1)
Accreditor
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Also known as
Penn State
§ · Who studies here

The student body at a glance.

  • White63%
  • Hispanic9%
  • International9%
  • Asian8%
  • Black5%
  • Two or more races4%
  • Unknown2%
First-gen students29%
Share whose parents didn't complete college.
Part-time2%
Mostly a full-time student body.
Veterans0%
Share using veteran education benefits.
Median family income$62k
Of enrolled students' households — useful for aid context.
§ V · Majors offered here · 141

What you can study.