Pennsylvania State University

The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) is a public, state-related land-grant research university headquartered in Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855 as the Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania and designated the state's first land-grant institution in 1863, it has grown into one of the largest and most comprehensive university systems in the country, with its flagship University Park campus in State College and more than 20 additional campuses across the Commonwealth. Penn State is classified as an R1 doctoral university with very high research activity and is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU). Penn State offers hundreds of undergraduate and graduate programs across disciplines including engineering, business, agriculture, health sciences, liberal arts, and the sciences. The university is also known for its extensive research enterprise, Division I athletics (the Nittany Lions), and a large alumni network. It serves students from all 50 U.S. states and more than 140 countries, combining teaching, research, and public service as part of its land-grant mission. As of fall 2024, Penn State enrolled approximately 88,000 students system-wide, maintaining its position among the largest public universities in the United States. The University Park campus alone enrolls nearly 50,000 students and is set in a rural college-town environment spanning nearly 8,000 acres.