Did you know there are 24 Penn State campuses? That’s right, State College is not the only place you can find a home within the University. These campuses come in all different sizes, and are spread throughout Pennsylvania.

Penn State lives across Pennsylvania

There is University Park, the largest, most well-known Penn State campus. The campus you probably think of when you hear “Penn State University”. However, there are other options spread throughout the state where you could start, or even finish, your Penn State degree. In fact, there are more than 30,000 students at Penn State Commonwealth Campuses.

Some of these students have the ability, depending on the campus and their major, to spend all four years at their Commonwealth campus. Others are enrolled in the 2+2 plan.

What this means is, you can start your degree at one Penn State campus, spend two years there, then finish your journey at any Penn State campus with the degree you wish to complete. For example, I am a Marketing major. I started at Penn State Beaver, a small campus located north of Pittsburgh. Penn State Beaver offers a four year business degree I could have completed there, but I chose to major in Marketing. So, I spent two years there and I will finish my degree at University Park.

Some students choose to enroll in the “2+2 Program”, while others spend all four years at a Commonwealth Camupus

So, which campus is best for you? Well, that depends on your preferences. When deciding what campus to go to, think of a few major points:

1. Financial Situation
   • If you would like to attend Penn State, but save money, a Commonwealth campus may be the choice for you. Even spending two years at a Commonwealth, then transferring to UP can save you thousands of dollars
2. Class Size
   • Class sizes at University Park can be over 500 students. During my time at Penn State Beaver, my largest class was around 40 people. Consider what setting you see yourself performing and learning the best in.
3. Location
   • State College is a college town surrounded by farmland and mountains. Many students enjoy this setting. Other students may want to be near a big city, and can consider campuses near Pittsburgh (Beaver, Fayette, Greater Allegheny) or Philadelphia (Abington, Brandywine).

This is just the beginning of the decision making process with the Penn State options available. Just know, whether you make the choice to spend all four years of your degree at University Park, or start at a different campus and transfer, you are not alone. Over 7,000 first-year students begin their journey at University Park, and over 9,000 begin at another campus.

Penn State has a fit for everyone.

One of the best parts about Penn State’s options?

No matter where you start or finish, your degree will say “The Pennsylvania State University.”

Learn more about our campuses at a Penn State Day open house. Events are happening all around the state this month!