Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is a public research university in University Park, Pennsylvania, enrolling about 42,284 students. Admission is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of about 60.56% in federal reporting data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $63,435 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $20,644
- 2024 Average Net Price: $32,875 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 60.56% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 42,284 98.0% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 86.09%
- Average SAT Score: 1337
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus: what the data shows
Common questions about Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus?
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is located in University Park, PA (ZIP 16802-1503).
NCES locale classification: Town.
Is Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus public or private?
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is a Public institution.
How much does Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus cost?
Published tuition: $20,644 in-state, $41,790 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $32,875.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $19,845 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $20,049 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $25,667 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $31,834 |
| $110,001+ | $37,831 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $82,576.
How hard is it to get into Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus?
Admission rate: 60.56%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1337.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus?
Total enrollment: 42,284 students.
About 98% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus?
150%-time completion rate: 86.09%.
First-year retention: 92.6%.
What do graduates of Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus earn?
Median earnings: $55,620 six years after entry; $63,435 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $25,000.
13.88% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Other/Unknown Programs (14,594 completions)
- Finance, General (533 completions)
- General Psychology (512 completions)
- Graphic Communications (465 completions)
- Mechanical Engineering (450 completions)
- Computer Science - 11.0401 (439 completions)
- Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (434 completions)
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General (393 completions)
- General Economics (362 completions)
- CIP 520301 (358 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 60.56%; completion rate 86.09%; median earnings $63,435 at 10 years; net price $32,875. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Costs
Tuition Costs
$20,644
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus was $20,644.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$32,875
2024 Value
In 2024 Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $32,875.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$131,500 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$32,875 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$82,576 4-Year In-State Tuition
$167,160 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional.
4-year total cost breakdown for Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus.
Financial Aid by Income Level
13.88% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
39.91% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $16,992 | $29,566 | $27,032 |
| 2014 | $17,502 | $30,452 | $28,201 |
| 2015 | $17,514 | $31,346 | $29,226 |
| 2016 | $17,900 | $32,382 | $29,806 |
| 2017 | $18,436 | $33,664 | $30,373 |
| 2018 | $18,454 | $34,858 | $30,996 |
| 2019 | $18,450 | $35,514 | $27,343 |
| 2022 | $19,835 | $38,651 | $32,223 |
| 2023 | $20,234 | $40,188 | $32,606 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
60.56% Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1337
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.5 - 3.7
Estimated Median GPA: 3.60
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
98.0% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus in 2024 is 42,284 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
92.6%
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.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
70.64% 100% Completion Time
86.09% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 70.64% of students graduating from Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus.
Return on Investment
$25,000 Median Student Debt
$63,435 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
39.41% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
382.40% Return on Investment
3.9 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus.
Top Programs by Completions
10 Programs Reporting Data
Finance, General: 533 completions
General Psychology: 512 completions
Graphic Communications: 465 completions
Mechanical Engineering: 450 completions
Computer Science - 11.0401: 439 completions
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services: 434 completions
Marketing/Marketing Management, General: 393 completions
General Economics: 362 completions
CIP 52.0301: 358 completions
Other/Unknown Programs: 14,594 completions
Most popular programs at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus graduates.
About
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is a public institution located in University Park, PA, offering 215 distinct degree programs across various academic disciplines. The institution enrolls approximately 42,284 students. The admission rate is 60.56%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1337. The institution maintains a 86.09% graduation rate. Approximately 13.88% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Public
Location
University Park, PA 16802-1503
Region: Mid East
Insights and Analysis
Exceptional Graduation Rate: With a 86.09% graduation rate, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus demonstrates strong student retention and completion. This rate significantly exceeds the national average, indicating effective academic support and student services.
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 215 distinct degree programs, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
FAQ
How much does Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus cost?
Reported in-state tuition is $20,644 and average net price is $32,875 in the latest College Scorecard data.
How hard is it to get into Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus?
The admission rate is 60.6% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data.
What test scores do students need for Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus reports midpoint SAT about 1337.
What do graduates of Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus earn?
Median earnings are $55,620 six years after entry and $63,435 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus?
The 150%-time completion rate is 86.1% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $25,000.
How big is Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus?
Total enrollment is about 42,284 students in the latest reporting year.
Is Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus public or private?
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is a public institution located in University Park, PA.
Is Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus an HBCU?
No. Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus a tribal college?
No. Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus does not meet that proxy (reported share 9.3%).
Is Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.