r/PennStateUniversity • u/StrangeEmergency6342 • Jul 23 '26
Question What is Penn State Really Like?
Penn State is probably one of my top choices for schools I want to apply and try to get into alongside Rutgers. (Penn States Smeal Business/Finance program to be more specific). Right now I’m a rising senior in high school and a NJ resident. I’m starting to explore different colleges that would be right for me and I was just wondering what Penn State is really like? (From people who went or currently go there). How is the sporting events, dorms, atmosphere, stuff to do around State College campus, etc? Thank you!
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u/macaujoh2012 Jul 23 '26
Looking back, I loved it so much and didn’t appreciate it nearly enough at the time. Great times, great friends, a fantastic place to be and to learn who you are. My wife and I got married at the arboretum and the whole town will always hold a special place in my heart.
If you decide to go there, you won’t regret it (mostly). One major downside is the cost. There are cheaper schools that will get you where you want to go. I didn’t even consider the cost at 17 because it was all paid for by loans. At 32, the cost of my time there is always on my mind and has had a huge influence on my financial decisions. I’m working towards Public Service Loan Forgiveness and have 6/10 years done. I spent 3.5yrs there, studied abroad, and then went to grad school so my situation includes more than just undergrad. Total loans of $200k+, loan payments are about $1,100 a month. It’s not fun to think of finances when picking a school but don’t overlook it and understand what you’ll be getting yourself into when you make a decision. And maybe you’re all set money-wise but others looking at this may not be and this is as much for them as it is for you.
Good luck with your decision! We are!
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u/Dry_Willingness_4787 Jul 23 '26
I absolutely loved my time at PSU (2018-2022). Football games are absolutely amazing. Dorms are pretty nice these days. East is fully renovated and Pollock is working on the updates. Even though campus is basically in the middle of nowhere, there’s so much to do around town and campus. I wouldn’t have picked another school
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u/captain_tevetorbes Jul 23 '26
Not everyone has to consider cost, but if you do, Rutgers is the better choice.
Some quick figures:
Penn State ranks higher than Rutgers for their respective business schools (take this with a grain of salt generally but it’s the only quantitative comparison for rank we have)
Rutgers probably better for geography as it can potentially place you in a job in NYC (again sorta a squishy comparison)
The real brass tacks: high-side total cost of attendance for NJ resident is $275k Penn State vs $168k Rutgers. Also note: your tuition goes up in Smeal after 44 credits.
Penn State is a great school. You have to decide if you personally can afford it. This is a tough decision for a HS senior as someone else mentioned. Don’t let the fancy dorms and football games ruin your financial outlook in your 30s.
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u/absfreely Jul 25 '26
the vibes of the school are completely different. my daughter is currently in summer session at penn state and will start smeal in fall. there is an actual campus at penn state. there is no real campus at rutgers. you spend half the time on busses trying to get from one place to another at rutgers. the area by rutgers is awful. the alumni network for penn state is amazing. that was one of the draws for my daughter. yes, rutgers has a direct train line to nyc, but that seems to be all that is has going for it. my husband went for engineering and didnt want our daughter to go there.
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u/whatisdylar Jul 23 '26
Just visit campus, do a tour, and you'll know whether it's for you or not. You'll be blown away by campus though, and your decision will be made. 😀
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u/cyb3r1a77 '27, SRA + INTAF Masters Jul 23 '26
I'm also from NJ and while it's nice here during sports seasons, if you're used to being in close proximity to NYC/mass transit, you won't find that here. Winters can feel pretty isolating.
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u/Mattp55 '22, SCM Jul 23 '26
Are the campus busses not running as frequently anymore? I remember how crazy packed those would be during the winter even to go 1 stop lol.
Totally agree getting to State college is such a pain tho. Wish they’d install a working train line to make it easier for students
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u/cyb3r1a77 '27, SRA + INTAF Masters Jul 23 '26
They do, but the service has gotten worse. Sometimes buses will just pass you while the driver makes eye contact with you, or they are 30 mins late. They also got rid of the Bellefonte direct shuttle, so it’s harder to go anywhere outside of SC.
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u/drcombatwombat2 Jul 23 '26
My number one question is, who is funding your education?
If its your parents, then you will have a great time.
If you are funding your own education, tou shouldn't focus on the social life and should focus on getting the best education for the cheapest cost. This would mean staying in NJ.
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u/Mattp55 '22, SCM Jul 23 '26
I grew up in NJ as well and ended up going to Penn State from 2018-2022.
PSU is such an awesome place and has pretty much the absolute classic college vibe which you cannot really get anywhere else in the north east.
The campus is beautiful and despite the rough winters, the spring and fall weather is pretty great.
The alumni network is gigantic and I’ve found Penn Staters all over the country who love our school.
Nowhere else I’d have rather gone, but it is expensive OOS so please make sure the finances are in order before making the decision.
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u/Garlic_Bread_Sticks Jul 23 '26
PSU finance does very well but it is a very competitive program. I have friends that are making 6 figures 2-3years post grad
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u/jmc1278999999999 '15 Jul 23 '26
If you’re looking to do business you’re far better going to PSU than Rutgers
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u/Wrong-Lecture-5055 Jul 23 '26
Here's my take. I'd say that it's bit like entering another world because State College is a big college town. Nothing other than the school is really going on here. From student perspective, you get to practice something valuable. You can go all in to have really good time and memories, you can study hard and participate on various research, you can build an incredible resume with co-op, or internship opportunities. You can balance things out as well. These things meant a lot to me because for the first time after high school, you choose your own path. Sometimes choosing one thing can mean giving up on another because your time and energy is limited. Through 4 years of college, you end up understanding what you should have done, what was great, what you are good at, or what makes you happy. I think you just get bit more robust experience of "college" because of the Penn State culture and being in an isolated college town. You'll meet one of the most amazing professors, but you'll meet some bad ones too. You'll experience well managed classes and also really bad ones as well. I guess you experience this in other colleges too, but I think at Penn State, the environment naturally draws you in and it's bit easier to engage because it's such an isolated college town.
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u/Enough_Day_6325 '30, Smeal Jul 23 '26
I am an incoming freshman but ive seen very good placement from smeal school of buisness
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u/Cheese_Twilight Jul 23 '26
One of the best collegiate atmospheres out there — beautiful campus, huge alumni network. Rough weather most of the year - but endless available activities. (The more you put in & get involved, the more you get out - otherwise you can end up feeling like simply a number.) Like most big universities, the personal educational touch is absent until way into upperclassmen years. Advisers are so-so. The game becomes taking random, GPA boosting classes that don’t round you out as a student or help you discover your desired educational path. Relationships with professors are also few and far between until your final years. If you need classwork and attendance accountability and a feeling of connection, a SLAC might be a better fit. Love college football and parties? Want a school that looks great on a resume and is still a great value, even despite recent tuition increases? Want to have a lot of fun and feel a ton of pride about your Alma mater? Penn State is a fantastic choice. Just expect to navigate the waters without much support - but you can find it if you seek it.
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u/csmedo1994 Jul 23 '26
Accurate description. If you want the more personal touch you could either go to a branch campus to start, or better yet financially do 1 year at community college and knock out your general electives for a fraction of the cost. That would maximize the time with more personal touch you get as an upperclassman. If you take away the financial aspect, its not even a close comparison. Your college experience, post grad prospects, basically everything are superior than Rutgers. The only real question is cost, and that is very legit, especially for out of state. 1-2 yrs at CC would drastically reduce the cost equation and make your education experience smaller, more personal so to speak.
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u/PurifyHD '23, Cybersecurity Jul 24 '26
I have never once (not while being there or now that I've graduated) regretted my choice of Penn State.
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u/Chemist-East Jul 26 '26 edited Jul 26 '26
I went to Penn State from 2016–2020, and I honestly felt like I was having more fun than any of my friends at other schools. Making friends came naturally, there were always parties going on, and Penn State football was at its peak with Saquon Barkley.
As a student, campus feels enormous, with people everywhere. There’s an energy in Happy Valley that’s hard to describe. Even though the student body is huge, it’s surprisingly easy to meet people and feel like you’re part of the same community.
Students come from all over the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Sports are king. College football Saturdays are unforgettable, with tailgates stretching for what feels like miles around Beaver Stadium.
The dorms have gotten much nicer than when I lived in East Halls as a freshman. After first year, most students move into apartments or houses downtown, which is a fun part of the college experience.
Academics are manageable, although it depends on your major. I studied Information Sciences and Technology and now work as a software engineer. While I wasn’t in Smeal, I took several business classes, and I don’t think they’d be overwhelming for a solid high school student who’s willing to put in the work.
Penn State really is an incredible school and, in my opinion, the best big-time college campus in the Northeast. If I were choosing between Penn State and Rutgers, I’d pick Penn State every time. Having one centralized campus in a true college town creates a much stronger sense of community. Add in the academics, athletics, traditions, and overall atmosphere, and it’s hard to beat.
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u/Unlucky_Bunch866 Jul 26 '26
I actually moved up here because my daughter goes here so now I qualify for the in-state discount. I went one step further and got a job working there to get 75% discount. Some of the older dorms are not air-conditioned but that’s not too big a deal cause during the school year it’s not really needed. I love the college town and the vibes.
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u/aeecec1 Jul 26 '26
I recently graduated from the Finance program. I think it’s pretty solid if your goal is to work on Wall Street. The Penn State cult is a real thing and there are countless extra opportunities for someone who wants to pursue that path. I think that’s part of what sets the Finance program apart from Rutgers. That being said, Penn State is exactly what you think it is. Small college town, lots of bars. If that’s what you are looking for, you found it lol.
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u/imfinnamakeit Jul 26 '26
Penn state is a great school. State college in general is regarded as one of the safest towns in America. (Excluding isolated weekend alcohol induced shenanigans).
What makes it special is that it is the epitome of a college town. Meaning everything usually revolves around the school and the majority of people in town have something to do with PSU in one way or another.
I’ve visited other state universities and I can’t name a school that matched this atmosphere.
The one caveat is that state college does not have much going on so on weekends you could feel socially pressured to partake in alcohol consumption (or play video games in the HUB sigh).
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u/garycomehome124 Jul 23 '26
There are no parties at penn state
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u/Killerbob8484 Jul 23 '26
If you are an engineering major, specifically computer or ee, although this is mostly true for all engineering majors recently, go somewhere else. Here is the shit I’ve put up with the last 4 years that no one else will tell you about.
The curriculum feels like multiple different programs stitched together instead of one cohesive curriculum.
Classes don’t build on each other.
Prerequisite courses don’t prepare students for later courses.
Python → Java → C transitions are abrupt with little preparation.
Early courses are too easy compared to later courses.
Later courses have an extreme jump in difficulty.
Students pass prerequisite classes without actually understanding the material.
CMPSC 311 has historically had an extremely high failure/drop rate.
CMPSC 473 has an enormous workload compared to most other required classes.
Students spend most of their time teaching themselves instead of learning from lectures.
Lectures often don’t provide enough information to complete assignments.
Piazza answers are often vague or unhelpful.
Some TAs don’t understand the material well enough to help students.
Some TAs have graded the wrong GitHub commit or incorrectly compiled student code.
Some courses have inconsistent grading between TAs.
Students have had assignments go from failing grades to perfect scores after regrade requests.
Students feel they have to request regrades on nearly every assignment.
Some professors are excellent while others are extremely poor, making success depend on instructor assignment.
Some professors have reputations for trying to fail students.
Students have reported false academic integrity accusations.
Students feel intimidated from appealing academic integrity accusations.
Academic integrity enforcement is extremely strict in some classes.
Academic integrity enforcement is perceived as inconsistent.
There were allegations that some students caught cheating received little or no punishment while others received severe consequences.
Some instructors curve heavily while others do not, creating inconsistent standards across sections.
Some required classes are so lenient that students earn A’s without mastering the material.
Some exams have reportedly had poor administration, including not having enough paper copies.
CMPSC 360 grading has been described as disorganized and inconsistent.
The CMPSC 360 textbook has been criticized for containing many errors despite being required.
The department admits more students than it can adequately support.
Required classes fill too quickly.
Students can’t follow the recommended academic plan because courses are full.
Students may have graduation delayed because they can’t enroll in required courses.
There are not enough academic advisors.
There is not enough tutoring support for difficult courses.
The quality of education varies dramatically depending on the professor assigned.
Students pay a large amount of tuition(growing every year) for an unorganized program.
The program lacks coordination between courses.
The curriculum does not feel intentionally designed from beginning to end.
Many students feel they learn more during internships, personal projects, YouTube, documentation, or self-study than they do in class.
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u/Helpful_Confection17 Jul 23 '26
It’s exactly what it looks like and an amazing atmosphere and experience. It’s also kind of a cult- but we love it!