What do people say about Penn State?

People generally view Penn State as a large university offering a vibrant social scene, strong school spirit (especially for sports), and diverse academic programs, but with common concerns about high out-of-state tuition, navigating its vast size, and large lecture classes, though many praise its strong alumni network and unique traditions like THON.

What is the reputation of Penn State?

Penn State Rankings. Often ranked as a top thirty research university, our quality is reflected in Penn State's worldwide standings as a leader in research, education, and community. Our record-breaking research expenditures exceed $1.44B, ranking 12 disciplines in the top 10 by the National Science Foundation.

Why do people like Penn State so much?

Penn State's long tradition of academic excellence, investment in student success, and commitment to providing unrivaled opportunities make the University a great place to study, but it is the dedication of our students, faculty, and staff that make it truly exceptional.

What kind of student goes to Penn State?

Though students hail from all 50 states and over 140 foreign countries, Penn State draws heavily from the Northeast, with “lots of kids from the tristate area” who are mostly “athletic, suburban, and friendly middle-class.” Penn State offers various orientation and transition programs to help new students make social ...

What is the saying for Penn State?

On September 11, 1976, the words “We Are Penn State” were cheered for the first time in Beaver Stadium by University cheerleaders who were determined to fire up fans. While the phrase took some time to catch on, by 1981 the cheer had become a permanent part of the language of every Penn Stater.

The important meaning and history behind Penn State's chant

What is the Pennsylvania state motto?

Pennsylvania's state motto is "Virtue, Liberty, and Independence," a phrase that reflects the state's heritage as central to America's founding and its focus on moral order, freedom, and self-government, appearing on its state flag and coat of arms. 

Is Penn State Democrat or Republican?

Penn State (Pennsylvania as a whole) isn't strictly Democratic or Republican; it's a crucial swing state, meaning its political leaning shifts, but Democrats often win statewide while Republicans perform well in many areas, with recent elections showing very close margins, indicating a divided populace. While registered Democrats slightly outnumber Republicans, the gap is shrinking, and the state voted Republican in 2016 and swung back Democratic in 2020, then Republican again in 2024, highlighting its competitive nature. 

What is the #1 hardest college to get into?

There isn't one single #1 hardest school, as it changes slightly by year and criteria, but Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, and Caltech consistently rank among the top with extremely low acceptance rates (often 3-4%) and intense competition for spots, though other top global universities like Oxford and Tsinghua are also incredibly selective. Harvard is frequently cited as the hardest due to its high volume of applications and focus on global leadership potential, while Caltech is known for its extreme difficulty in STEM. 

Is Penn State harder to get into than Pitt?

It's very close, but recent data suggests the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) might be slightly harder to get into due to lower acceptance rates (around 50-58%) compared to Penn State (around 54-61%), along with slightly higher average SAT/ACT scores, although Penn State can feel harder for some due to its purely merit-based approach, meaning specific score cutoffs can lead to denial, while Pitt uses a more holistic review. 

What are the cons of Penn State?

Spoiler Alert: Really bad.

• Penn State is the least selective school in the Big10.
• We have the lowest rate of acceptance regarding offers of admission.
• The academic metrics of our incoming students are now among the lowest in the Big10.
• Our net cost is the highest of our 13 Big10 public school peers.

Is Penn State known for partying?

Penn State is well known for its lively party scene, but students have different relationships with the school's long-running reputation.

Is Penn State a mini Ivy?

Penn State, or PSU, is a large public university that is not part of the Ivy League, whereas UPenn, or Penn, is a prestigious private university that is in the Ivy League. While the two universities are often confused with each other due to their similar-sounding names, they couldn't be more different.

Why does everyone love Penn State?

The difference is our people and our purpose. Penn State is a million-strong, worldwide community of students, alumni, faculty, and staff who take your success and happiness personally. Your fellow students aren't just classmates. At Penn State, you could meet some of your best friends for life.

Why is Penn State graduation rate so low?

Academic preparedness: Some students may arrive at college less prepared academically, which can lead to struggles in completing college-level coursework and ultimately affect the university's graduation rate.

Is Penn State considered a public ivy?

“Penn State is also considered a 'Public Ivy,' so perhaps that adds to some of the confusion.” According to Penn State, 1 in 4 first-generation college students and 73% of all undergraduates receive financial aid. The Pennsylvania State University, established in 1855, is the state's only public land-grant institution.

What is the #1 party school?

For 2026, the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), is widely ranked as the #1 party school by sources like Niche, based on student surveys about campus party scenes, access to nightlife, and Greek life, followed by schools like Florida State and Tulane. Other strong contenders often mentioned include the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USC, and the University of Alabama, with rankings varying slightly by publication and criteria.
 

Where do top 1% send kids to college?

The "top 1%" of students, referring to those from the highest income brackets, tend to attend elite universities like MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, and Yale that consistently rank high in national and global lists, with some even having more students from the top 1% income bracket than the bottom 60% combined, according to The New York Times data. Top-ranked institutions like MIT, Princeton, Harvard, and Stanford are frequent top contenders in various 2026 rankings from U.S. News & World Report and Times Higher Education. 

What is the easiest college in the US?

Easiest colleges to get into in the United States

• Southeastern Bible College acceptance rate.
• Arizona Western College acceptance rate.
• North Arkansas College acceptance rate.
• Ashford University acceptance rate.
• California State University Bakersfield acceptance rate.
• Naropa University acceptance rate.

Is Penn State a white out?

One of college football's best -- and loudest -- annual traditions is back this weekend: the Penn State Nittany Lions' White Out game. The game's origins date to 2004, when the school asked students to wear white for a showdown against No. 9-ranked Purdue.

Is Penn State a predominantly white school?

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

The enrolled student population at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is 58.4% White, 8.52% Hispanic or Latino, 6.74% Asian, 4.53% Black or African American, 3.56% Two or More Races, 0.125% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0615% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Is Pennsylvania more conservative or liberal?

On the state level, Pennsylvania has been a traditionally liberal Republican state, with a dominant state Republican Party that is much more oriented towards social spending than more conservative state Republican Parties in other regions of the United States.

What is the slang name for Pennsylvania?

The urban/rural divide in Pennsylvania is real and it's inspired one of Pennsylvania's more popular nicknames: Pennsyltucky. It's a combination of "Pennsylvania" and "Kentucky," a more-than-a-little condescending attempt to describe the sea of rural, conservative land that separates Pennsylvania's two large cities.

What is PA's state animal?

Pennsylvania's official state animal is the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), designated in 1959 due to its significant role as a historical food and clothing source for Native Americans and early settlers, and its continued presence and importance to the state's culture and economy, especially for hunting.