Pennsylvania State University-World Campus is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in University Park, Pennsylvania. It enrolls 7,877 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
59/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes15
Value67
Affordability50
Selectivity44
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 91.2%, Pennsylvania State University-World Campus is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
91.2%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1090 – 1335
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
26 – 32
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Pennsylvania State University-World Campus isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $19,550 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$19,550
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
31%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
41%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$15,356
Room & Board (off-campus)
$15,274
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,020
Total Cost of Attendance
$27,678
Application fee: $65 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$16,372
$30,001 – $48,000
$17,144
$48,001 – $75,000
$19,337
$75,001 – $110,000
$23,852
Over $110,000
$26,078
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,75010%percentile
$8,75025%percentile
$25,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$34,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $20,980
↓ $4,020
No Pell $19,500
↓ $5,500
Dependent students $19,500
↓ $5,500
Independent students $19,486
↓ $5,514
Female students $20,000
↓ $5,000
Male students $19,500
↓ $5,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($25,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
61% of full-time students who enrolled at Pennsylvania State University-World Campus graduate within six years, and 66% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
61%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
66%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Pennsylvania State University-World Campus earn a median of $63,435 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$63,435
Earning > $25K
84%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$50,100
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$63,100
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$50,800
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$53,000
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$62,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $13,000, about 21% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
14.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 91% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus is home to 7,877 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 56% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
7,877
Part-Time
56%
First-Generation
29%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 62.7%4,936
Hispanic 13.6%1,068
Black 8.7%685
Asian 5.6%443
Other 4.6%360
International 2.7%216
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Pennsylvania State University-World Campus. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityUniversity Park, Pennsylvania
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
59%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Branch campus
What You Can Study
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
128 distinct programs across
25 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Pennsylvania State University-World Campus is 16:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
16:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Pros & Cons of Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Pennsylvania State University-World Campus tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Solid post-graduation earnings
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
First-year retention is below typical
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Pennsylvania State University-World Campus is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Pennsylvania State University-World Campus.
Is Pennsylvania State University-World Campus hard to get into?
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 91.2%.
What is the acceptance rate at Pennsylvania State University-World Campus?
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus has an acceptance rate of 91.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Pennsylvania State University-World Campus?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Pennsylvania State University-World Campus scored between 1090 and 1335 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Pennsylvania State University-World Campus?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Pennsylvania State University-World Campus scored between 26 and 32 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Pennsylvania State University-World Campus cost?
The average net price after aid at Pennsylvania State University-World Campus is $19,550 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Pennsylvania State University-World Campus worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $63,435 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $19,550 per year. That's roughly 3.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Pennsylvania State University-World Campus known for?
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Geography, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Pennsylvania State University-World Campus graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Pennsylvania State University-World Campus are $63,435, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Pennsylvania State University-World Campus accredited?
Yes. Pennsylvania State University-World Campus is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Pennsylvania State University-World Campus?
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus enrolls 7,877 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Pennsylvania State University-World Campus?
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus graduates 61% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Pennsylvania State University-World Campus a public or private college?
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus is a Public institution.
Where is Pennsylvania State University-World Campus located?
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus is located in University Park, Pennsylvania.
What programs does Pennsylvania State University-World Campus offer?
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus offers 128 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Geography, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Pennsylvania State University-World Campus?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Pennsylvania State University-World Campus is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Pennsylvania
Other colleges in Pennsylvania share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Marketing
Business Administration
Teacher Education (K-12)
Related Guides
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
H
How to Build Your College List Pillar
The full process of narrowing from 3,839 US colleges to a shortlist of ~10. Cost, location, size, selectivity, and fit factors that actually predict whether you'll thrive.
What actually makes a college work for first-generation students, the support and aid signals that predict success, and how to find the schools that deliver them using federal data.
How to find the colleges that deliver the strongest return on a STEM degree by weighing earnings outcomes against net cost, rather than chasing the most selective name.
Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
American Colleges by the Numbers
One federal dataset, 3,839 colleges. The median school costs $16,371 a year, admits 78% of applicants, and enrolls 1,259 students. The shape of US higher ed.
Higher education data
Net price
College enrollment
Acceptance rate
College ownership
Do Selective Schools Actually Graduate More Students?
Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
Graduation rate
Acceptance rate
Selectivity
Completion
College outcomes
For-Profit Colleges Charge the Most and Pay the Least
For-profit colleges post the highest median net price of any sector and the lowest graduate earnings. They cost more than private nonprofits and pay less than publics.
For-profit colleges
Net price
Earnings
College ROI
College ownership
Continue Exploring
Browse our full directory: every college, major, program, and career we track, all built from verified government data.
