Penn State University Main Campus Student Population Revealed

The Pennsylvania State University, also known as Penn State or PSU, is a public state-related land-grant research university with campuses and facilities across Pennsylvania. Its primary campus, Penn State University Park, is located in State College and College Township. The latest data shows that the university has a total undergraduate enrollment of 42,223 students, with an overall enrollment of 87,995 students across all campuses. The university ranks among the most selective schools in Pennsylvania, with an acceptance rate of 49%.

The number of undergraduate students at Penn State University's main campus is 42,223

The Pennsylvania State University, also known as Penn State or PSU, is a public state-related land-grant research university with campuses and facilities across Pennsylvania. Its primary campus, Penn State University Park, is located in State College and College Township.

Penn State University Park is the largest of the university's 24 campuses, with a dedicated ZIP code of 16802. The campus spans 5,617 acres, or 7,958 acres according to another source, and is located at the junction of Interstate 99/U.S. Route 220 and U.S. Route 322. The campus offers housing to 14,000 students, with first-year students being required to live on campus.

The university has a rich history, founded in 1855 as the Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania. It became the state's first land-grant university in 1863 and has since grown to become one of the largest public universities in the United States. In addition to its land-grant designation, it is also a sea-grant, space-grant, and one of only six sun-grant universities.

With a strong focus on research, Penn State is classified as an "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity" institution and is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU). The university offers a wide range of programs through its various colleges, including Agriculture, Arts and Architecture, Business Administration, Communications, and more.

Penn State is also known for its athletic programs, competing in Division I of the NCAA as the Penn State Nittany Lions. The university has won numerous national championships and Olympic medals, and its football team, in particular, enjoys a large following.

The university is committed to providing a diverse and inclusive environment for its students, with various strategies in place to address long-term enrollment decreases at the Commonwealth Campuses.

The student body is nearly 88,000 strong

The student body at Penn State University Park is nearly 88,000 strong, making it one of the largest public universities in the United States. In fact, it is the largest university in Pennsylvania. The student population is spread across 20 undergraduate campuses and five special mission campuses. The main campus, University Park, is located in State College and College Township, and is the largest of the university's 24 campuses.

The student body is made up of a diverse range of individuals. In fall 2024, the overall population of underrepresented minority students—including those who self-identify as Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian/Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander—increased by 3.8% compared to the previous year. This is despite a less diverse incoming class of first-time, full-time undergraduate students, which saw a decline of 9.8% in students from underrepresented minority groups.

In total, there were 87,995 students enrolled across all of Penn State's campuses in fall 2024. Of these, 42,223 were undergraduate students, and 13,038 were graduate students. The university also has a large international student body, although numbers dropped slightly (by 2.9%) in 2024.

The student body at Penn State is supported by over 8,000 dedicated faculty members across its undergraduate campuses. The university offers over 275 four-year degree programs, as well as a flexible 2+2 plan, which allows students to begin their degree at one campus and finish at another.

With such a large student population, it's no surprise that Penn State also has a thriving student life. There are over 1,000 student groups, including one of the largest Greek systems in the country, with approximately 12% of the University Park population affiliated. Students can also get involved in sports, with 29 NCAA Division I teams in the Big Ten Conference, as well as club teams and intramural sports.

The University Park campus is the primary campus

The University Park campus is the largest of Penn State's 24 campuses and is the most selective in the Penn State system, with an acceptance rate of 49%. For the fall 2024 semester, the University Park campus expected to see its largest-ever first-year class, with an estimated range of 9,400 to 9,500 students. The campus has a total undergraduate enrollment of 42,223 as of fall 2023, with 40,363 undergraduate students and 5,907 graduate students enrolled during the fall 2018 semester. The campus provides housing for up to 14,000 students, with first-year students being required to live on campus.

The University Park campus offers programs through various colleges, including the Colleges of Agriculture, Arts and Architecture, Business Administration, Communications, Earth and Mineral Sciences, Education, Engineering, Health and Human Development, Liberal Arts, and Science. It has a student-to-teacher ratio of 14:1 and features over 1,000 student groups. The campus is centrally located at the junction of Interstate 99/U.S. Route 220 and U.S. Route 322, and is accessible via various transportation options, including intercity bus services and the State College Regional Airport.

The acceptance rate for Penn State University Park is 54%

The application requirements for Penn State University Park include a high school GPA, although high school rank is neither required nor recommended. College prep courses are recommended, and SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted. Recommendations are neither required nor recommended.

The university has a "road map" for gradually increasing enrollment, with a goal of moving towards 10,000 first-year students across the next several admissions cycles. In recent years, class sizes for first-year students seeking a bachelor's degree have ranged from 8,547 to 9,415. For the fall 2024 semester, the expected first-year class size is between 9,400 and 9,500 students.

Penn State University Park is the primary campus of the Pennsylvania State University system, which includes 19 commonwealth campuses and five special mission campuses located across Pennsylvania. The University Park campus is located in State College and College Township, in central Pennsylvania. With an undergraduate enrollment of over 40,000 students, it is the largest campus in the system and offers a wide range of academic programs.

The campus covers 7,958 acres and has a dedicated ZIP code: 16802. The campus is centrally located at the junction of Interstate 99/U.S. Route 220 and U.S. Route 322, and is easily accessible from Interstate 80. The State College Regional Airport, serving two regional airlines, is also nearby.

The acceptance rate for Penn State University Park reflects the university's selective nature and its position as one of the most sought-after institutions in Pennsylvania. The campus offers a vibrant and diverse community for students, with a range of extracurricular activities and a strong athletic program.

The campus spans 5,617 acres

The campus of Penn State University Park, the university's main campus, spans 5,617 acres. The campus is centrally located at the junction of Interstate 99/U.S. Route 220 and U.S. Route 322, and is due south of Interstate 80. The campus is about 70 miles northwest of Harrisburg.

The campus's dedicated ZIP code is 16802, and it is served by Intercity bus services such as Fullington Trailways, Greyhound Lines, Megabus, and OurBus. The State College Regional Airport, which serves two regional airlines, is also nearby.

Penn State University Park is a public, comprehensive university offering programs through its various colleges, including Agriculture, Arts and Architecture, Business Administration, Communications, Earth and Mineral Sciences, Education, Engineering, Health and Human Development, Liberal Arts, and Science.

The university has a total undergraduate enrollment of 42,223 as of Fall 2023, with an acceptance rate of 54%. The student body is diverse, with approximately 58% of the overall student population comprising in-state students. The university also offers housing for up to 14,000 students, with first-year students being required to live on campus.

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