The Pennsylvania State University — Penn State — is one of America's largest public universities, with its flagship University Park campus in State College, Pennsylvania, and 19 other campuses across the state. It is a research powerhouse with a famously loyal alumni network, strong engineering, business and earth-sciences programmes, and a total enrolment of more than 80,000 students across all campuses. International students pay the non-Pennsylvania resident tuition band.
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | University Park, State College, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Type | Public land-grant research university |
| Founded | 1855 |
| Students | About 46,000 at University Park; 80,000+ across all campuses |
| Acceptance rate | About 55% (reported) |
Fees and cost of attendance (2026-27)
At University Park, 2026-27 tuition and fees are US$20,878 for Pennsylvania residents and US$41,790 for out-of-state students — the band international students pay. The total cost of attendance for out-of-state students is US$65,910–US$70,136 a year, including housing, food, books and personal costs. Graduate tuition is US$32,352 (in-state) and US$55,806 (out-of-state) in 2026-27. The Board of Trustees approved a 4% increase for out-of-state students for the 2026-27 cycle.
At the smaller Commonwealth campuses (Brandywine, Hazleton, Lehigh Valley, Schuylkill, Scranton, York), non-resident undergraduate tuition is lower — about US$25,306 a year for freshmen and sophomores and US$26,462 for juniors and seniors in Fall 2026. Many international students start at a Commonwealth campus and transfer to University Park after two years.
Scholarships: Penn State bills international students at the non-resident band, with limited need-based tuition grants such as SIGIA reducing the gap. There is no full-ride merit scholarship for international undergraduates; budget on the published rate.
Popular programmes
Penn State's best-known programmes are Engineering (especially mechanical, aerospace and industrial), the Smeal College of Business, Computer Science, Earth and Mineral Sciences (including meteorology and petroleum engineering), Nursing, and Information Sciences and Technology. The Smeal MBA and specialised business master's programmes cost US$55,900 and above a year. The university is also famous for its research in materials science, meteorology and agricultural sciences.
Admissions and deadlines
For Fall 2027 entry, applications are open now. The Early Action deadline is 1 November 2026, with rolling admission afterwards. Penn State accepts the Common Application and its own application. International applicants need proof of English proficiency (TOEFL iBT or IELTS); SAT/ACT scores are optional for most programmes. The international student fee is about US$1,500 a year on top of tuition.
Life at Penn State
State College is a classic college town built around the university, with a compact downtown, Beaver Stadium (one of the largest stadiums in the world, home of the Nittany Lions) and more than 1,000 student organisations. Winters are cold and snowy; summers are mild. The nearest large cities are Pittsburgh (about 2.5 hours) and Philadelphia (about 3 hours).
Frequently asked questions
How much does Penn State cost for international students? At University Park, budget US$65,910–US$70,136 a year all-in for 2026-27. Commonwealth campuses are cheaper — about US$25,000–US$27,000 in tuition a year.
Can I start at a smaller campus and transfer? Yes — this is a common route. Complete two years at a Commonwealth campus, then transfer to University Park for your major.
Does Penn State offer scholarships to international students? Limited need-based grants exist, but there is no guaranteed merit scholarship for international undergraduates. Apply for departmental awards after enrolment.
What is the 2027-28 tuition? To be confirmed — the Board of Trustees sets rates each year. The 2026-27 figures above are the latest published.
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Sources and verification: Penn State tuition schedule Fall 2026 (University Park out-of-state tuition and fees US$41,790; total cost of attendance US$65,910–US$70,136; graduate out-of-state US$55,806; Commonwealth campuses non-resident US$25,306–US$26,462); Fall 2027 Early Action 1 November 2026, rolling afterwards. Confirm current figures on tuition.psu.edu.