College Spotlight--Penn State University (visiting 11/11)

Link: Penn State Univ

The largest campus in the Penn State system, University Park is home to a diverse population of about 35,000 undergraduate students. Penn State University Park students enjoy passing iconic buildings like Old Main daily, while also taking advantage of amenities in new facilities like the Information Sciences and Technology Building or the Life Sciences Building.


Penn State University Park is located in the small city of State College, a quintessential college town with its small eateries and quirky shops that line the street marking the border between downtown and campus. Nestled near the base of Mount Nittany, the surrounding area of central Pennsylvania is known as “Happy Valley.”

Freshmen at University Park are guaranteed on-campus housing, and, in subsequent years, offered housing through an easily managed lottery system. Approximately 13,000 students live on campus. Six residence hall areas offer traditional, dormitory-style living. On-campus housing is guaranteed and mandatory for first-year students.

The diverse community hosts students from all fifty states and more than one hundred countries, with a typical annual student population of more than 40,000.

The campus houses eleven of the University’s undergraduate colleges, the Graduate School, Schreyer Honors College, and a campus of Penn State Dickinson School of Law. It is the base for the University Libraries, which serve all the campuses in the Commonwealth.

The Nittany Lions football team plays at Beaver Stadium on the campus and other Big Ten sporting events are held in the playing fields and in the Bryce Jordan Center, a multipurpose arena for University ceremonies such as commencement, sporting events, and entertainment.

Penn State University Park Virtual Tour