University overview
Editorial ViewLocation, editorial summary, and verified institutional context.
The Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is a public institution in University Park, PA. IPEDS-reported enrollment is approximately 15,785 students. The published admit rate is 92%. Out-of-state tuition is listed at $42,420 before aid. The graduation rate in federal outcomes data is 72%. CollegesRef separates verified metrics from this editorial overview — confirm figures on the admissions, financial, and outcomes tabs before making decisions.
Admissions
Verified DataSelectivity, enrollment funnel, and reported test score ranges from verified federal data.
Institution type
Public
Carnegie
A Doctoral University (which undergraduates attend) with very high research activity
Setting
Small city
Applicants
96,686
Admits
89,207
Enrolled
15,785
SAT ERW: 570–670
SAT Math: 570–690
ACT: 25–31
Academics
Verified DataEnrollment scale, calendar structure, and outcome-linked academic signals.
Total students
15,785
15,785 students
Calendar
semester
Academic calendar
Graduation rate
72%
Reported outcomes
Retention rate
87%
First-year retention
Carnegie classification
A Doctoral University (which undergraduates attend) with very high research activity
Cost and affordability
Verified DataTuition, net price, and aid signals sourced from federal reporting where available.
Average net price
$24,012
After grants and scholarships for in-state students where reported.
Campus life
Verified DataCulture percentile bands describe student life intensity across common fit dimensions.
Campus culture bands are not yet available for The Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus. Theme attributes and athletics may still appear under Special Features.
Rankings and recognition
Verified DataCollegesRef does not invent magazine-style ranks. This section surfaces verified classification data and editorial context only.
Carnegie classification
A Doctoral University (which undergraduates attend) with very high research activity
Institutional classification used for academic peer grouping.
Athletics
NCAA Division I
NCAA division where available from verified imports.
Editorial spotlight
College profile: The Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
The Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is a public institution in University Park, PA. IPEDS-reported enrollment is approximately 15,785 students. The published admit rate is 92%. Out-of-state tuition is listed at $42,420 before aid. The graduation rate in federal outcomes data is 72%. CollegesRef separates verified metrics from this editorial overview — confirm figures on the admissions, financial, and outcomes tabs before making decisions.
Outcomes and after college
Verified DataVerified outcomes from imported federal datasets. Editorial interpretation may supplement these facts elsewhere on the profile.
Median earnings
N/A
Median earnings where reported by federal outcomes data.
Retention rate
87%
First-year student retention.
Graduation rate
72%
Students graduating within 150% of normal time.
Student reviews
Editorial ViewUser-submitted reviews are not fabricated for launch. This report card summarizes verified data signals until moderated student voices are available.
Data report card
The Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
The Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is a public institution in University Park, PA. IPEDS-reported enrollment is approximately 15,785 students. The published admit rate is 92%. Out-of-state tuition is listed at $42,420 before aid. The graduation rate in federal outcomes data is 72%. CollegesRef separates verified metrics from this editorial overview — confirm figures on the admissions, financial, and outcomes tabs before making decisions.
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Special features
Verified DataCurated theme attributes and athletics context that distinguish campus character.
Athletics
NCAA Division I
Sources and data freshness
Verified Data- Legacy CLGS importLast verified 2026-06-27T19:13:51+00:00
CollegesRef separates verified federal and institutional data from editorial interpretation. Personalized AI matching is available via Colleges Like This.
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