In-state vs. out-of-state tuition at Penn State
Penn State charges $20,644 a year in published tuition and fees for Pennsylvania residents, about $10,322 a semester, and $41,790 a year for students from other states, about $20,895 a semester, a difference of $21,146. About 47% of first-year students came from out of state. You may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships. Compare out-of-state tuition at 100 public universities →
What makes Penn State different
- A true college town. State College, in central Pennsylvania, revolves around the university.
- Many ways in. Students can start at one of Penn State's Commonwealth Campuses and finish at University Park.
- THON. A student-run dance marathon that raises money for pediatric cancer is one of the biggest traditions on campus.
What Penn State students study
The most common bachelor's degrees (class of 2024): finance (533), psychology (512), information sciences and technology (427), computer science (426), marketing (393), mechanical engineering (385) and economics (340). Source: IPEDS Completions, first majors only.
You may thrive at Penn State if…
- You want a huge, spirited campus in a classic college town.
- You'd value a flexible path, such as starting at a smaller campus.
- You're interested in business, engineering or information technology.
Worth asking about
- How does the Commonwealth Campus path work, and how many students move to University Park?
- Penn State's in-state tuition is the highest in the Big Ten: what does the net price calculator show for your family?
How Penn State compares with the other Big Ten schools
Penn State is one of the conference's largest schools and has its highest in-state tuition. See how the 18 Big Ten schools differ.
FAQ
What is Penn State's acceptance rate? 55.3% for fall 2025: 58,952 of 106,547 first-year applicants were admitted, according to its Common Data Set 2025–26. Source For fall 2024 it was 60.6%.
What is Penn State's out-of-state acceptance rate? 53.3% for fall 2025, compared with 56.7% for Pennsylvania residents. Penn State admitted 38,846 of 72,861 out-of-state applicants and 12,096 of 21,321 Pennsylvania residents to University Park, according to Penn State's Common Data Set for 2025–26. Source International applicants are counted separately. Out-of-state tuition and fees are $41,790 a year before aid; you may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships. Compare out-of-state acceptance rates at public universities →
Is Penn State an Ivy League school? No. Penn State is a public university in the Big Ten. The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) is the Ivy.
How much does Penn State cost? Published tuition and fees are $20,644 a year in-state and $41,790 out-of-state, before any aid.
How much is Penn State tuition per semester? About $10,322 a semester for Pennsylvania residents and $20,895 for out-of-state students, based on published yearly tuition and fees of $20,644 and $41,790 before aid.
Is Penn State an R1 university? Yes. In the 2025 Carnegie Classifications, Penn State is an R1 university, the group with the highest research spending and doctoral degrees. What R1 means →
How many students go to Penn State? About 42,300 undergraduates (fall 2024).
Is a big college town right for you?
Lens's assessments show which campus sizes and settings fit you. Start with Lens →