Ibrahim Gardner
The cost of tuition at Penn State University is a topic of concern for many students and their families. Tuition rates vary based on campus, program, and residency, with in-state tuition being significantly lower than out-of-state. In-state tuition at Penn State is expected to cost around $150,000 for a bachelor's degree, while out-of-state tuition is projected to increase in the coming years. The university provides financial aid through loans, grants, work-study programs, and scholarships, but some students still struggle with the burden of debt and question the value of their investment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Tuition rates | Vary by campus, program, student level, and residency |
| Room and board estimates | Based on the standard room rate in the University College Houses |
| Cost of attendance | Direct costs (tuition, fees, housing, and dining) and indirect costs (books and supplies, transportation, and an allowance for personal expenses) |
| Financial aid | Loans, grants, work-study, and scholarships |
| Scholarships | Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) |
| In-state tuition | Provided to Pennsylvania residents |
| Out-of-state tuition | Expected to increase in the coming years |
| Tuition rates for 2026-27 | No increase for in-state undergraduates at Commonwealth Campuses; 4% increase for full-time, lower-division, non-Pennsylvania-resident undergraduates at University Park; 1% increase for out-of-state undergraduates at Commonwealth Campuses; 1% increase for all World Campus undergraduates |
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What You'll Learn
In-state vs out-of-state tuition
The cost of tuition for students at Penn State varies based on campus, program, student level, and residency. Penn State is a state-affiliated institution, so tuition rates differ for in-state and out-of-state students. Generally, a student needs to live in Pennsylvania for non-academic reasons for a year before enrolling to be considered a resident for tuition purposes.
In the United States, public 4-year undergraduate degrees have an average out-of-state tuition of $28,297 compared to $9,750 for in-state students. In-state tuition is typically significantly cheaper than out-of-state tuition at public universities in the U.S. This is because in-state students and their families have likely contributed to the institution's finances through taxes. Charging out-of-state students a higher rate also allows the university to increase its revenues. The difference in cost varies by state and even by schools within the state. The cost for out-of-state tuition can be more than double or triple what in-state students pay.
There are various ways to make out-of-state education more affordable. Financial aid can help offset the cost of steep out-of-state tuition. Many grants and scholarships are so-called “last-dollar” financial aid awards, which only cover up to the total cost of tuition and fees. Students can stack many scholarships and grants to help cover the increased cost of an out-of-state education. They should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to better understand what aid they qualify for.
Geographically close states often create reciprocity agreements. Participating schools promise to charge in-state tuition to students who reside in a partner state. The Midwest Student Exchange Program, for example, includes over 70 institutions that charge no more than 150% of their in-state tuition to students from Indiana, Kansas, and Minnesota. Private colleges offer a 10% reduction of their tuition rates instead. The New England Tuition Break provides tuition savings to residents of the six New England states when they enroll in college within that region.
Some states have regional exchange programs that allow students from nearby states to qualify for in-state tuition or a lower out-of-state tuition. Four-year public institutions in South Dakota and North Dakota boast the least expensive out-of-state tuition and fee rates, while institutions in Michigan and Vermont tend to be the most expensive for out-of-state students.
It is also possible to reclassify residency after enrollment. Universities may offer a pathway to paying in-state tuition if the student meets the residency requirement and proves that they plan to live in the state permanently. Students with high grade point averages may be allowed to pay in-state rates.
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Scholarships and grants
Penn State provides several tools to help students estimate the costs associated with earning a degree. The Office of Student Aid handles loans, grants, work-study, and scholarships and is the go-to for financial queries. Penn State offers several sources for possible scholarship funding. While not a requirement for all scholarships, Penn State recommends that all students who are offered admission submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to maximize their aid options.
The Office of Student Aid is one unit that offers scholarships and awards at Penn State. The majority of scholarships awarded by the Office of Student Aid are based on a combination of merit and demonstrated financial need as determined by the FAFSA. Penn State Commonwealth Awards are offered annually to first-time, first-year students who are residents of Pennsylvania and enroll at a Penn State campus other than Penn State University Park or Penn State World Campus. The Discover Award is another scholarship offered to first-time, first-year domestic students who enroll at a Penn State campus other than the aforementioned campuses.
The Penn Grant is a need-based institutional grant available to all traditional undergraduate students for up to eight academic semesters. Named scholarships are also available, resulting from the generous gifts of Penn alumni and friends. These are also need-based, with eligibility criteria similar to the Penn Grant. The Maguire Foundation provides last-dollar scholarship support to up to five students in each incoming class for four years, based on financial eligibility and academic standing.
Pell Grants are funded by the federal government and are based on financial need as determined by the FAFSA. These awards are offered annually to high school seniors who are Philadelphia residents and who attend schools in Philadelphia or contiguous Pennsylvania counties. The scholarship amount varies according to financial need as determined by Penn and is renewable for returning students if they continue to demonstrate financial need.
Pennsylvania scholarships often require basic demographic and contact information, as well as an essay and a recommendation letter from an adult who knows the applicant well. Some scholarships have different requirements, such as the Road to Safety Scholarship, which asks students to submit a creative project on why safe driving is important for teens. Pennsylvania scholarships may also require applicants to be enrolled in a Pennsylvania school to qualify, though some are more lenient, such as the New York Women in Communications (NYWICI) Scholarship Program, which is open to female students interested in the communication field.
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Tuition fees for online courses
The University of Pennsylvania, also known as Penn, is a private Ivy League university, and as such, students are expected to pay tuition fees. The cost of attendance at Penn includes both direct costs that appear on a student's bill, such as tuition, fees, housing, and dining, and indirect costs that are not billed by the university, such as books and supplies, transportation, and an allowance for personal expenses.
Similarly, tuition and fees for Penn Engineering Online are based on course units. Online students enrolled in at least two courses are eligible to apply for federal student loans. International students' eligibility depends on their status. Starting with the Fall 2022 cohort, incoming Penn Engineering Online students are eligible to apply for the Dean's Master's Scholarship.
Since Penn is a state-affiliated institution, tuition rates differ for in-state and out-of-state students. To receive in-state tuition, veteran and/or dependent status must be verified. Students using Department of Veterans Affairs education benefits automatically receive in-state tuition. Generally, a student needs to live in Pennsylvania for non-academic reasons for a year before enrollment to be considered a resident for tuition purposes.
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Residency appeals
The cost of attending Penn for an academic year includes both direct costs, such as tuition, fees, housing, and dining, and indirect costs, such as books and supplies, transportation, and an allowance for personal expenses. Penn's tuition rates vary by campus, program, student level, and residency.
- A written explanation
- A copy of the first page of the parent's Federal and Pennsylvania income tax returns for the most recent year (financial information may be blocked out)
- A copy of the parent's current Pennsylvania driver's license or state-issued photo identification card
For students requesting a review of their residency classification after the first day of their first semester at the university, they must submit their request through the Residency Review link. The review will be conducted based on the documentation submitted by the student to support reclassification. All review of classification decisions will be communicated to the student by email. Students may only request a review of the initial classification if they believe it was wrongly determined or if, during their enrollment, their circumstances change, and they can present information and/or documentation demonstrating residency in Pennsylvania for purposes other than education.
To be classified as a Pennsylvania resident for tuition purposes, a student must have a Pennsylvania domicile, and their presence in Pennsylvania must not be primarily for educational purposes. Domicile is defined as a person's existing and intended fixed, permanent, and principal place of residence. Undergraduate students under the age of 24 are presumed to have the domicile of their parents or court-appointed guardians. A student who has continuously resided in Pennsylvania for purposes other than education for at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding their initial enrollment at the university is presumed to have a Pennsylvania domicile for tuition purposes.
Additionally, any member of the armed forces who was a resident of Pennsylvania immediately preceding their entry into the service and has continuously maintained Pennsylvania as their domicile is presumed to have a Pennsylvania domicile. They should submit a cover letter along with documentation of the service member's home of record. National Guard or Reserve members eligible to use Chapter 1606 or other Department of Veterans Affairs education benefits will be eligible for in-state tuition regardless of residency.
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Additional costs
The cost of attendance at Penn State includes both direct costs that appear on your student bill, such as tuition, fees, housing, and dining, and indirect costs that are not billed by Penn, for which students should budget accordingly. These indirect costs include books and supplies, transportation, and an allowance for personal expenses.
Students are required to live in on-campus housing for their first two years of enrollment. Students who live off-campus receive a housing allowance to cover nine months of living expenses. The food allowance represents the cost of a first-year dining plan, and students living off-campus receive an allowance for food purchases. Students are required to participate in a meal plan for their first two years.
There is also a mandatory fee for all students to support Penn Wellness services, including Campus Health, Counseling and Psychological Services, the Student Health Service, and the Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Programs. All first-year students are required to participate in New Student Orientation (NSO) programming, which includes a mandatory fee of $490 to cover meals and events.
Certain courses may charge course-specific lab fees. There is also a Technology Fee that covers online learning resources, data and network security, technology support, email services and support, technology-enabled spaces, provided software, electronic research tools, and other related costs.
Students who do not have health insurance, whose plans do not provide coverage in the Philadelphia area, or whose plans do not meet Penn’s criteria for alternative insurance will automatically be enrolled in the Penn Student Insurance Plan (PSIP). This cost will be added to the student's cost of attendance.
For students from the U.S., a separate travel allowance is added to account for two round trips home. The amount varies by region and is based on the student's permanent address.
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Frequently asked questions
No, tuition rates vary by campus, program, student level, and residency.
A bachelor's degree from Penn State costs around $150,000 for an in-state student.
For full-time, lower-division, non-Pennsylvania-resident undergraduates at University Park, the 2026-27 tuition would be $22,287 per semester.
Yes, Penn State offers several sources for possible scholarship funding. The Office of Student Aid handles loans, grants, work-study, and scholarships and is the go-to for financial questions.
Yes, students and families should budget for travel, personal expenses, books, and supplies.
