Pennsylvania State University
State College, PA | Public SchoolSchool’s WebsiteOverview:
Check out why Pennsylvania State University received an F grade in our Report Card below.
Pennsylvania State University is a public university in State College, Pennsylvania with an undergraduate enrollment size of 39,809. The university is located in a small city setting situated between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. It has a large Greek life and student club influence. Students at Pennsylvania State University can enjoy shopping and restaurants near College Avenue, attend sporting events within the university, visit the Center for the Performing Arts, and relax at the university Arboretum. Their official mascot is Nittany Lion. Members of the Pennsylvania State University community are referred to as “Nittany Lions.”
Pennsylvania State University offers more than 275 majors, with four-year degrees offered at all 20 undergraduate campuses. Notable former students include television host Lara Spencer, Nike chairman Mark Parker, aerospace engineer and retired United States Air Force officer Guion Bluford, and film director Adam McKay.
Fast Facts:
REPORT CARD:
Pennsylvania State University receives a “D” grade by What Will They Learn? which takes into account the university’s educational prowess. Factors include composition, literature, foreign language, U.S. government or history, economics, mathematics, and natural science.
Pennsylvania State University receives a “C+” grade for the Percent of Graduates with Debt (Federal and Private). In 2020, 53% of graduates accumulated student debt from federal and/or private sources according to The Institute for College Access & Success.
Pennsylvania State University receives a “D+” grade for the Average Debt of Graduates (Federal and Private). In 2020, graduates accumulated $42,657 of debt on average from federal and/or private sources according to The Institute for College Access & Success.
Pennsylvania State University receives an “F” grade for Mandated Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity Training for Staff. The university’s Affirmative Action Office plays a critical role in directing the employee environment.
“The Affirmative Action Office (AAO) supports Penn State’s strategic goals of advancing a diverse and inclusive community by providing expert advice and leadership to colleges and campuses, and all non-academic units, ensuring an environment free from discrimination and harassment. The office’s primary role is to ensure the University’s compliance with federal Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action regulations, as well as to develop and deliver continuing education and training for University employees to foster an environment of respect, responsibility, inclusion, and belonging in the workplace and classroom.”
Pennsylvania State University receives a “C” grade for having a Bias Reporting System but not a Bias Response Team. Bias Reporting Systems and Response Teams are systems or teams of faculty, staff, and sometimes law enforcement.
According to SpeechFirst, students are “encouraged to report ‘bias incidents’ to these boards (or teams) in the name of inclusion and tolerance, but it’s often unclear what the school considers ‘bias’ in the first place. Overly broad or vague definitions of bias put all kinds of speech at risk of being reported – even unpopular speech which is protected by the First Amendment.”
Pennsylvania State University receives an “A” grade for the Ratio of Right-Leaning Clubs to Left-Leaning Clubs. Out of a list of 20 clubs (10 from each side), the university has four right-leaning clubs compared to four left-leaning clubs. Turning Point USA, Lions for Liberty Student Chapter, Students for Life, and Uncensored America are the four right-leaning clubs. Penn State Student Lion Pride Roundtable for Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity, Planned Parenthood Generation Action, United Socialists, and Iota Iota Iota are the four left-leaning clubs.
Pennsylvania State University receives an “A” grade due to having an active and thriving Turning Point USA chapter. Unfortunately, universities and Student Governments around the country often use their power to prevent certain clubs from operating on campus.
Pennsylvania State University receives a “D” grade for In-State Tuition for Illegal Immigrants. The university states, “Undocumented students, with or without DACA, can be eligible for in-state tuition if they meet Penn State’s residency requirements. These requirements include attending an accredited Pennsylvania high school for at least four years and graduating from an accredited Pennsylvania high school or receiving a Pennsylvania General Educational Development (GED) certificate.”
Pennsylvania State University receives an “F” grade for the Amount of Foreign Funding Received. According to College Foreign Gift Reporting, the total amount of foreign funding the university has received is $13,566.98 per current undergraduate student. Oftentimes, foreign parties will convey their influence by funding certain courses, activities, professors, and organizations on campus. In certain cases, universities must abide by restrictions dictated by foreign parties to receive funding. In addition, there have been reports that claim that universities underreport foreign funding. The figure above only takes into account reported foreign funding.
Pennsylvania State University receives a “C” grade for Required Equity, Diversity, or Inclusion Courses for Students. The university requires students to take courses within specific categories. These categories include:
- Arts Courses
- Health and Wellness Courses
- Humanities Courses
- Inter-Domain Courses
- Linked Courses
- Natural Sciences Courses
- Quantification Courses
- Social and Behavioral Sciences Courses
- Writing and Speaking Courses
Examples of left-leaning courses in the Social and Behavioral Sciences requirement include “Race, Gender, and Unemployment,” “Black & White Sexualities,” and “Sex and Gender: A biosocial and comparative perspective.” While there are many left-leaning courses, they can be bypassed in favor of unbiased courses.
Pennsylvania State University receives a “B” grade for Segregated Dormitories, Graduations, and Classes. The university has one segregated housing community based on sexual orientation (Penn State Ally House).
The university has no segregated convocations or classes.
Pennsylvania State University receives a “B-” grade for Protests and Canceling Speakers. Since 2021, the university has had one incident. Antifa protested an event with Alex Stein and Gavin McInnes leading to a declared unlawful assembly.
Pennsylvania State University receives a “C” grade for Mask and Vaccine Mandates. The university describes its vaccination policy on its Health Guidelines page: “Penn State strongly encourages students, faculty and staff to stay current with their COVID-19 vaccinations and to share their vaccination status with the University as soon as possible.”
The university describes its masking policy: “The University strongly recommends face masks be worn indoors on campuses in counties designated by the CDC to have high COVID-19 Community Levels.
Even on campuses in counties with low or medium COVID-19 Community Levels, the University encourages anyone who wishes to wear mask [sic] indoors on these campuses to continue to do so.
Face masks are required in facilities providing health care and in other locations where required by law, including indoors at the College of Medicine, Penn State Health locations, University Health Services and other campus health care centers.”
While vaccines and masks are encouraged, they are not mandated by the university.
Pennsylvania State University receives an “A+” grade for the Percent of Students Graduating with STEM Degrees. According to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data Center (IPEDS), as of 2020, 16.26% of the current undergraduate student population graduate with a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) degree. Across the United States, students who graduate with STEM degrees tend to earn more on average than their other student counterparts.
Pennsylvania State University receives an “A+” grade for Crime Rates in University City or Town. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the State College, Pennsylvania violent crime rate was 34.02 per 100,000 people in 2018, much lower than the 2018 national average of 380.56 per 100,000 people. While campus safety is of utmost importance, it is also pertinent to consider the crime rates of the surrounding town or city as students often tend to venture off campus, especially after their freshman year.
Pennsylvania State University receives an “F” grade for Required Western Civilization Courses for Students. The university does not require any course or category of courses designed to teach students about the history of the United States and western civilization as a whole.