For more than 150 years we’ve been leaders in higher education, but it’s our community of shared pride that motivates us to do good around the world.
We are Penn State
QS World University Rankings, 2024
Land, space, sun, or sea, Penn State is the place to be
As one of only three land- space- sun-, and sea-grant universities in the U.S., Penn State is on the cutting edge of research, education, and service to Pennsylvania communities.
Explore Penn State's rankings.
Athletics
Penn State has one of the nation's most comprehensive and successful athletic programs, featuring 29 varsity programs and participates in the Big Ten Conference at the NCAA Division I level for most sports. At Penn State’s 20 undergraduate campuses, 75+ NCAA Division III teams and 100+ PSUAC teams qualify for national championships through the USCAA.
Investing in your future
Achieving success
We take pride in delivering world-class education to our community of Penn Staters. Unique programs assist students with financial, academic, and personal challenges to help all succeed.
Discover your opportunities.
Our community of Penn Staters
Nearly 88,000 students
58%
Of students are Pennsylvania residents.
Students from 50 states and 140+ countries
Nearly 10,000 international students
40%
Of students are from diverse backgrounds.
7,900+ faculty across all campuses
775,000+ alumni
Innovation ecosystem
Invent Penn State’s 21 innovation spaces across the state work with students, alumni, corporate partners, and community innovators to accelerate the movement of great ideas and economic development in the Commonwealth and beyond.
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 $1.239B, ranking 12 disciplines in the top 10 by the National Science Foundation.
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U.S. News & World Report “Best Colleges” (Undergraduate) 2024
Penn State ranks 28th among national public universities and 60th overall out of 435 national universities listed in U.S. News World Report’s “Best Colleges” ranking for 2024. Penn State also ranks 23rd among Association of American Universities public institutions and is the top-ranked public university in Pennsylvania.
Undergraduate Programs
Undergraduate program rankings released by U.S. News include 16 top-25 ratings (four in the top 10) ratings for select programs in engineering and business, among others.
Best Undergraduate Business Programs
Penn State tied for #21 in “Best Undergraduate Business Programs,” out of 523 ranked institutions. In addition, the University ranked in the following specialties:
- #8 in Supply Chain Management/Logistics
- #11 in Production/Operation Management
- #17 in Management (tie)
- #25 in Accounting (tie)
- #24 in Marketing (tie)
- #50 in Finance (tie)
Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs (at schools whose highest degree is a doctorate)
Penn State tied for #19 out of 208 ranked institutions in “Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs.” In addition, the University ranked in the following specialties:
- #9 in Materials Engineering
- #9 in Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering
- #10 in Biological/Agricultural Engineering (tie)
- #13 in Civil Engineering
- #15 in Aerospace/Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering (tie)
- #15 in Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering (tie)
- #15 in Mechanical Engineering (tie)
- #20 in Chemical Engineering
- #25 in Computer Engineering (tie)
- #27 in Electrical/Electronic/Communications Engineering
Best Undergraduate Computer Science Programs
Penn State tied for 40 out of 554 ranked programs.
Best Undergraduate Nursing Programs
Penn State tied for 31 out of 656 ranked programs.
Best Undergraduate Economics Programs
Penn State tied for 41 out of 309 ranked programs.
Best Undergraduate Psychology Programs
Penn State tied for 34 out of 542 ranked programs.
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U.S. News & World Report, “America’s Best Graduate Schools 2023-24”
U.S. News “Best Graduate Schools” ranks professional school programs in business, education, engineering, law, medicine and nursing, including specialties in each area.
#37 in Best Business Schools (Smeal College of Business) (tie)
- #6 in Supply Chain/Logistics (tie)
- #11 in Production/Operations
- #20 in Management (tie)
- #22 in Accounting (tie)
- #21 in Business Analytics (tie)
#49 in Best Education Schools (College of Education) (tie)
- #3 in Higher Education Administration
- #6 in Student Counseling and Personnel Services (tie)
- #10 in Educational Administration and Supervision
- #13 in Special Education
- #15 in Secondary Teacher Education (tie)
- #19 in Curriculum and Instruction (tie)
- #15 in Education Policy
- #15 in Educational Psychology
#32 in Best Engineering Schools (College of Engineering)
- #6 in Petroleum Engineering
- #10 in Nuclear Engineering (tie)
- #10 in Industrial/Manufacturing/Systems Engineering (tie)
- #11 in Biological/Agricultural Engineering
- #11 in Materials Engineering
- #17 in Mechanical Engineering (tie)
- #15 in Aerospace/Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering (tie)
- #19 in Civil Engineering (tie)
- #27 in Chemical Engineering (tie)
- #28 in Electrical/Electronic/Communications Engineering (tie)
- #26 in Computer Engineering (tie)
- #38 in Biomedical Engineering/Bioengineering (tie)
Humanities and Social Sciences
- #23 in Sociology
—#3 in Sociology of Population (tie)
—#15 in Social Stratification (tie)
- #26 in Psychology (tie)
—#5 in Industrial Organizational Psychology (tie)
- #27 in Criminology
- #27 in Economics (tie)
—#9 in International Economics (tie)
—#13 in Microeconomics
—#17 in Econometrics (tie)
Public Affairs
- #72 in Best Public Affairs Programs, University Park (tie)
- #72 in Best Public Affairs Programs, Penn State Harrisburg School of Public Affairs (tie)
Sciences
- #1 in Geology
- #4 in Geochemistry
- #6 in Earth Sciences (tie)
—#2 in Environmental Sciences (tie)
—#3 in Geology
—#3 in Geochemistry (tie)
—#7 in Paleontology (tie)
—#9 in Geophysics (tie)
- #19 in Statistics (tie)
- #23 in Physics (tie)
—#12 in Cosmology/Relativity/Gravity
—#14 in Condensed Matter (tie)
—#16 in Atomic/Molecular/Optical (tie)
- #28 in Biostatistics (tie)
- #34 in Chemistry (tie)
—#22 in Inorganic Chemistry (tie)
—#16 in Analytical Chemistry (tie) - #37 in Mathematics (tie)
—#26 in Applied Mathematics (tie)
- #35 in Computer Science (tie)
—#25 in Artificial Intelligence (tie)
- #46 in Biological Sciences (tie)
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U.S. News “Best Online Programs” Rankings, 2024 – Penn State World Campus
Penn State World Campus ranked in these graduate degree disciplines and the overall bachelor’s degree programs category.
- #3 (tie), master’s in engineering
- #7, master’s in information technology
- #18 (tie), master’s in business (non-MBA)
- #19 (tie), master’s in education
- #22 (tie), MBA
- #32 (tie), bachelor’s degree programs
The “Best Online Programs” 2024 edition also includes rankings of specific disciplines within the program categories. These specialty program rankings were measured by U.S. News from ratings provided by national peer institutions, collected via surveys.
In addition, U.S. News ranked “Best Online Programs for Veterans” in six categories, with Penn State’s online bachelor’s programs at:
- #2, master’s in engineering
- #4, master’s in information technology
- #8 (tie), master’s in education
- #9 (tie), master’s in business (non-MBA)
- #20 (tie), bachelor’s degree programs
- #20 (tie), MBA
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QS World University Rankings 2024
Penn State ranked No. 83 in the world — a jump of 10 positions from No. 93 last year — in the recently released 2024 QS World University Rankings, placing the University in the top 6% worldwide among the 1,500 institutions ranked by QS. Penn State also placed, out of 199 ranked U.S. institutions, at No. 8 among public universities nationally and No. 4 among Big Ten institutions.
Center for World University Rankings 2023
Penn State is ranked 54th among the best universities in the world out of 2,000 ranked, placing the University in the top 3% for the quality of education of its students and the research prowess of its faculty, by the Center for World University Rankings for 2023.
Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024
Penn State is 20th among U.S. public universities, and placed 42nd in the nation overall, in the 2024 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings. Penn State placed in the top 6% globally among about 1,900 ranked institutions, rising 29 places from last year to No. 122 in the world.
Academic Ranking of World Universities (AWRU) 2023
The Academic Ranking of World Universities ranked Penn State in the range of 101-150 in its listing of the top 1,000 world-class universities, out of more than 2,500 institutions ranked worldwide.
AWRU 2022 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects
Penn State ranks in the top 50 in 16 subject area rankings and in the top 100 in the world in an additional 14 subjects, according to the 2022 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects, released by the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), which evaluates the performance of world universities in relevant subjects, using a number of metrics including research output, research influence, international collaboration, research quality, and international academic awards.
U.S. News & World Report “Best Global Universities” 2022-23
Penn State is ranked at #84 internationally, among 2,000 institutions evaluated, across 95 countries, in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Global Universities” for 2022-23.
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QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2024
Penn State tied for No. 4 among 210 ranked universities in the United States in the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability for 2024, released Dec. 5. Internationally, the University ranked No. 37 out of 1,403 participating institutions worldwide. Penn State also tied with the University of Minnesota Twin Cities for No. 1 among Big Ten institutions and No. 2 among all U.S. public universities.
The 2024 rankings provide a framework to show how universities are taking action to tackle the world’s greatest environmental, social and governance challenges, according to international rankings organization Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).
Campus Pride Index 2023
For the third year in a row, Penn State has received 5 out of 5 stars for overall campus climate — and included among the “Best of the Best,” a list of 30 four-year public and private colleges across the nation — in the 2023 Campus Pride Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning-Friendly Campus Climate Index. Campus Pride is a national nonprofit organization for student leaders and campus groups working to improve LGBTQ environments at colleges and universities.
Forbes “Best Employers for New Grads” survey 2023
Penn State ranked No. 21 among all large U.S. employers — public, private and nonprofit — for new college graduates entering the workforce, according to Forbes magazine’s “America’s Best Employers for New Grads” survey.
Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings 2023
Penn State ranked 3rd in the U.S. and 40th in the world out of nearly 1,600 participating institutions in the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings, placing Penn State in the top 2.5% of universities worldwide.
The global rating is a broad multidimensional assessment of a university’s research, community outreach and education, and campus operations. The criteria used in the assessment are linked to the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals, global goals adopted by all U.N. Member States that look to improve life for all people and help protect the planet.
The Princeton Review/Entrepreneurship Magazine, Top Schools for Entrepreneurship 2023
Penn State has been ranked as the #23 school for undergraduate entrepreneurship studies in the U.S. in annual ratings of the top schools for entrepreneurship studies, by The Princeton Review and Entrepreneurship Magazine. Among schools in the Mid-Atlantic region, Penn State came in at #3.
U.S. News & World Report, “Best Children’s Hospitals 2022-23”
Penn State Health Children’s Hospital ranks among the nation’s best hospitals for children in multiple specialties—cardiology and heart surgery (#33), diabetes and endocrinology (#41), and pulmonology (#42).
Compiled by Penn State's Office of Strategic Communications
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert and enthusiast, I have access to a vast amount of information on various topics. While I have personal experiences or emotions like a human, I can provide you with accurate and reliable information. In this case, I can provide information related to the concepts mentioned in this article. Let's dive into it!
Penn State University
Penn State University is a renowned institution of higher education that has been a leader in education for over 150 years. It is known for its commitment to research, education, and service to Pennsylvania communities. With 24 campuses across Pennsylvania, Penn State offers a wide range of academic programs and opportunities for students.
Rankings and Recognition
Penn State University has received numerous rankings and recognition for its academic programs, research, and overall quality. Here are some notable rankings and recognitions mentioned in the article:
- QS World University Rankings 2024: Penn State is ranked 83rd in the world, placing it in the top 6% worldwide among the 1,500 institutions ranked by QS. It is also ranked 8th among public universities nationally and 4th among Big Ten institutions in the United States [[1]].
- Center for World University Rankings 2023: Penn State is ranked 54th among the best universities in the world out of 2,000 ranked, placing it in the top 3% for the quality of education and research prowess [[2]].
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024: Penn State is ranked 42nd in the nation overall and 20th among U.S. public universities. It is also placed in the top 6% globally among about 1,900 ranked institutions [[3]].
- U.S. News & World Report "Best Colleges" 2024: Penn State ranks 28th among national public universities and 60th overall out of 435 national universities listed. It is also ranked 23rd among Association of American Universities public institutions and is the top-ranked public university in Pennsylvania [[4]].
- U.S. News & World Report "Best Global Universities" 2022-23: Penn State is ranked 84th internationally among 2,000 institutions evaluated across 95 countries [[5]].
These rankings reflect Penn State's commitment to academic excellence, research, and global impact.
Academic Programs and Achievements
Penn State offers a wide range of academic programs across various disciplines. The university has received recognition for several undergraduate and graduate programs. Here are some notable achievements mentioned in the article:
- Undergraduate Programs: Penn State's undergraduate programs have received high rankings in various disciplines. For example, the undergraduate business program is ranked 21st in "Best Undergraduate Business Programs" out of 523 ranked institutions. The engineering program is tied for 19th out of 208 ranked institutions in "Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs" [[6]].
- Graduate Programs: Penn State's graduate programs have also received recognition. The Smeal College of Business is ranked 37th in "Best Business Schools" (tie) among professional school programs. The College of Education is ranked 49th in "Best Education Schools" (tie) [[7]].
- Online Programs: Penn State World Campus, the university's online learning platform, has been recognized for its graduate degree disciplines and overall bachelor's degree programs. For example, it is ranked 3rd (tie) in master's in engineering and 22nd (tie) in MBA programs [[8]].
These achievements highlight the quality and diversity of academic programs offered by Penn State.
Campus Life and Diversity
Penn State University is known for its vibrant campus life and commitment to diversity and inclusion. Here are some notable aspects mentioned in the article:
- Student Life: Penn State offers a rich student life experience with over 1,000 student clubs and organizations. It is also home to the world's largest student-run philanthropy and offers numerous career preparedness programs [[9]].
- Diversity: Penn State has a diverse student body, with students from 50 states and 140+ countries. Approximately 40% of students come from diverse backgrounds, and 21% are first-generation students. The university is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all students [[10]].
These aspects contribute to the vibrant and inclusive community at Penn State.
Conclusion
Penn State University is a prestigious institution known for its academic excellence, research contributions, and commitment to community service. The university has received recognition and high rankings in various areas, including academic programs, research, and campus climate. With its diverse student body and vibrant campus life, Penn State offers a comprehensive educational experience for students.
