Penn State University The Pennsylvania State University ( Penn State ) is a multicampus state - related , land - grant , space - grant public research university with campuses and facilities throughout Pennsylvania , in the United States . Founded in 1855 , the university has a threefold mission of teaching , research and public service . Its instructional mission includes undergraduate , graduate , professional and continuing education offered through resident instruction and online delivery . Its University Park campus , the largest of 24 campuses across the state , lies within the Borough of State College and College Township , Pennsylvania . Overview . Penn State University Park is ranked among the top public universities nationally and is considered a " Public Ivy . " Annual enrollment at the University Park campus totals more than 44 , 000 graduate and undergraduate students , making it one of the largest universities in the United States . Penn State was an early leader in the movement for diversity , admitting its first two women in 1871 and its first African - American student in 1899 . It was one of the first schools to insist on integration in athletics . The university ' s total enrollment in 2009 - 10 was approximately 94 , 300 across its 24 campuses and online through its World Campus . Penn State offers more than 160 majors among all its campuses and administers a $ 1 . 52billion ( USD , as of April 30 , 2010 ) endowment . The university ' s research enterprise exceeded $ 765 million for the 2009 - 2009 fiscal year , and in fiscal year 2008 Penn State was ranked 11th among U . S . universities in research income by the National Science Foundation . The university boasts the largest student - run philanthropy in the world , the Penn State IFC / Panhellenic Dance Marathon ( also known as THON ) , and has one of the top intercollegiate athletic programs in the nation . [ See sections on THON , Student Life and Athletics . ] Penn State ’ s vision for the near future includes enhancing student success , continuing sustainability efforts , advancing a global presence , enhancing diversity , maintaining access and affordability , serving the people of Pennsylvania and beyond , using technology to expand access and opportunities , controlling costs and seeking additional efficiencies . Colleges & Campuses . University Park . The largest of Penn State ' s 22 campuses , University Park , is almost entirely within the boundaries of State College borough , a site chosen to be near the geographic center of the state . With an undergraduate acceptance rate of 51 percent , it is the most selective campus in the Penn State system , due primarily to the fact that students select University Park as their first - choice campus at a far greater rate than Penn State ' s other undergraduate campuses . During the fall 2006 semester , 36 , 612 undergraduate students and 6 , 302 graduate students were enrolled at University Park . Of those , 45 . 2 percent were female and 25 . 5 percent were not Pennsylvania residents . Colleges . The University Park campus is organized into 13 distinct " colleges " : In addition , the Penn State Board of Trustees voted in January 2007 to create a School of International Affairs , with the first classes admitted in the fall 2008 semester . The school is part of the Dickinson School of Law at its University Park campus location . As of 2008 the College of Nursing has been added to the list as a separate college . Housing . There are seven housing complexes located on campus for students attending the University Park campus : East Halls , North Halls , Pollock Halls , South Halls , West Halls , Eastview Terrace , & Nittany Apartments . Each complex consists of a few separate buildings that are dormitories and a commons building which has lounges , the help desk for the complex , mailboxes for each dormitory room , a small food shop , and a cafeteria - style room . Different floors within a building in the complex may be a Special Living Option , meaning students can sign up for that floor if they are in that major . Commonwealth campuses . In addition to the University Park campus , 19 campus locations throughout the state offer enrollment for undergraduate students . Over 60 percent of Penn State first - year students begin their education at a location other than University Park . All of these smaller campuses offer a limited number of degree programs , but any student in good academic standing is guaranteed a spot at University Park to finish his or her degree if required or desired . Most students do complete their degree program at University Park ( known as " change of assignment , " since Penn State campuses are not independently operated and therefore " transferring " is an inaccurate term ) . Special - mission campuses . The Dickinson School of Law of The Pennsylvania State University was founded in 1834 and is the oldest law school in Pennsylvania . It merged with Penn State in 2000 . Students now have the choice of studying in either Carlisle or University Park , with classes teleconferenced between the two locations using high - tech audiovisual equipment . The school is ranked among the top 100 law schools nationally , and has produced a number of governors , members of congress , and judges . A number of attorneys comprise the faculty and lead several centers and institutes devoted to specific practice areas . The school ' s alternative dispute resolution program is ranked among the top 10 nationally . The law school also houses the School of International Affairs . Penn State Great Valley School of Graduate Professional Studies is a special mission campus offering master ' s degrees , master ' s certification , and continuing professional education . Located in Malvern , Pa . , it also offers classes at the old Philadelphia Naval Shipyard . Penn State Hershey Medical Center and College of Medicine in Hershey , Pa . , is Penn State ' s medical school and teaching hospital . Penn State Milton S . Hershey Medical Center has become only the ninth hospital in the United States and 16th worldwide to implant the CardioWest temporary Total Artificial Heart when a 60 - year - old man suffering from end - stage heart failure received the device in May , 2008 . Pennsylvania College of Technology , in Williamsport , Pennsylvania , offers certificates as well as degrees in over 10 technical fields . In 1998 , the University launched Penn State World Campus , or Penn State Online , which offers more than 60 online education programs , degrees , and certificates . Distance education has a long history at Penn State , one of the first universities in the country to offer a correspondence course for remote farmers in 1892 . Examples of online programs include an MBA , master of professional studies in homeland security , a bachelor of science in nursing , and postbaccalaureate certificates in geographic information systems and applied behavior analysis . Penn State ' s World Campus offers 18 graduate degrees , 21 graduate certificates , 17 undergraduate degrees , and 11 undergraduate certificates . World Campus students come from all 50 U . S . states , more than 40 countries , and all seven continents . Demographics and trends . Racially , the University is representative of the state of Pennsylvania , although less diverse than comparable institutions . As of fall 2006 , the racial makeup of the Penn State system , including all campuses and special - mission colleges , was 82 . 8 percent white , 5 . 4 percent African - American , 4 . 6 percent Asian - American , 2 . 9 percent Hispanic - American , 0 . 2 percent Native American , and 4 . 2 percent international students . Over the period 1996 – 2006 , minority enrollment as a percentage of total enrollment has risen 3 . 5 percentage points , while minorities as a percentage of total teaching positions rose 2 . 0 percentage points from 1997 to 2002 . Organization . Penn State is a " state - related " university , part of Pennsylvania ' s Commonwealth System of Higher Education . As such , although it receives funding from the Commonwealth and is connected to the state through its board of trustees , it is otherwise independent and not subject to the state ' s direct control . For the 2006 - 2007 fiscal year , Penn State received 9 . 7 percent of its budget from state appropriations , the lowest of the four state - related institutions in Pennsylvania . Initial reports concerning the 2007 - 2008 fiscal year indicate that Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell is recommending a 1 . 6 percent increase in state appropriations . Penn State ' s appropriation request , submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Education in September , requested a 6 . 8 percent increase in funding . Board of Trustees . The university is governed by the 32 - member board of trustees . Its members include the president of the University , the Governor of the Commonwealth , and the state Secretaries of Agriculture , Education , and Conservation and natural resources . The other members include six trustees appointed by the Governor , nine elected by alumni , and six elected by Pennsylvania agricultural societies . Six additional trustees are elected by a board representing business and industry enterprises . Undergraduate students do not elect any trustees ; the court case " Benner v . Oswald " ruled that the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment did not require the undergraduate students be allowed to participate in the selection of trustees . As of 2009 , the chair of the board of trustees is James S . Broadhurst , a 1965 graduate of Penn State and CEO of Eat ' n Park Hospitality Group , Inc . The main responsibilities of the board are to select the president of Penn State , to determine the goals and strategic direction of the University , and to approve the annual budget . Regular meetings of the board are held bi - monthly and take place primarily on the University Park campus , although on occasion meetings are held at other locations within the Commonwealth . Administration . The president of the University is selected by the board and is given the authority for actual control of the university , including day - to - day management . In practice , part of this responsibility is delegated by the president to other departments of the administration , to the faculty , and to the student body . As of 2009 the president of the university is Graham Spanier . The executive vice president and provost is the chief academic officer of the University . As of 2009 the provost is Rodney Erickson , and the Associate Vice President and Senior Associate Dean For Undergraduate Education is Jeremy Cohen . Tuition . According to a 2006 survey by " USA Today " , Penn State ' s " flagship " campus , University Park , has the highest in - state tuition rates among comparable institutions nationwide . While a task force formed in 2001 to study options for tuition projections determined that the University ' s operating efficiency is among the highest in postsecondary education , it found that tuition increases at Penn State still consistently outpaced increases at other Big Ten Conference institutions . Student leaders of The Council of Commonwealth Student Governments ( CCSG ) have led annual rallies to lower rate hikes at each of the 19 commonwealth campuses and at the Pennsylvania state capitol in Harrisburg . In 2005 , the board of trustees proposed a tuition freeze at the undergraduate campus locations ( except University Park ) as part of its state appropriation request . Academics . The 2010 Academic Ranking of World Universities ranks Penn State 43rd among universities worldwide . U . S . News & World Report ranks Penn State ' s undergraduate program 47th in its 2011 American ' s Best College . In 2010 , Penn State was also ranked 98th in the QS World University Rankings . According to a Wall Street Journal survey released in September 2010 , Penn State was ranked # 1 among 479 corportate recruiting executives who were asked to identify " whose bachelor degree graduates were the best - trained and educated , and best able to succeed once hired . " Education . As of September 2009 , only 24 Pennsylvania colleges and universities held Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business accreditation in business and only 4 in accounting . The Smeal College of Business , The Sam and Irene Black School of Business , Penn State Harrisburg , and Penn State Great Valley were among the institutions accredited . Penn State offers an accelerated Premedical - Medical Program in cooperation with Jefferson Medical College . Students in the program spend two or three years at Penn State before attending medical school at Jefferson . Research . According to the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education , Penn State University is a Research University with very high research activity . Over 10 , 000 students are enrolled in the University ' s graduate school ( including the law and medical schools ) , and over 70 , 000 degrees have been awarded since the school was founded in 1922 . Penn State ' s research and development expenditure has been on the rise in recent years . For fiscal year 2007 the National Science Foundation reported that Penn State had spent $ 652 , 144 , 000 on R & D and ranked 11th among U . S . universities and colleges in R & D spending . For the 2008 - 2009 fiscal year , Penn State was ranked 9th among U . S . universities by the National Science Foundation , with $ 753 million in research and development spending for science and engineering . During the 2009 - 2010 fiscal year , Penn State received $ 780 million in research expenditures . The Applied Research Lab ( ARL ) , located near the University Park campus , has been a research partner with the United States Department of Defense since 1945 and conducts research primarily in support of the United States Navy . It is the largest component of Penn State ' s research efforts statewide , with over 1 , 000 researchers and other staff members . The Materials Research Institute was created to coordinate the highly diverse and growing materials activities across Penn State ’ s University Park campus . With more than 200 faculty in 15 departments , 4 colleges , and 2 Department of Defense research laboratories , MRI was designed to break down the academic walls that traditionally divide disciplines and thereby enable faculty to collaborate across departmental and even college boundaries . MRI has become a model for this interdisciplinary approach to research , both within and outside the university . Penn State was one of the founding members of the Worldwide Universities Network ( WUN ) , a partnership that includes 17 research - led universities in the United States , Asia and Europe . The network provides funding , facilitates collaboration between universities , and coordinates exchanges of faculty members and graduate students among institutions . Penn State president Graham Spanier is a former vice - chair of the WUN . The Pennsylvania State University Libraries were ranked 14th among research libraries in North America in the 2003 – 2004 survey released by The Chronicle of Higher Education . The University ' s library system began with a 1 , 500 - book library in Old Main . In 2009 its holdings had grown to 5 . 2 million volumes , in addition to 500 , 000 maps , five million microforms , and 180 , 000 films and videos . The campus is also host to a Radiation Science & Engineering Center , which houses the oldest operating university research reactor . Additionally , University Park houses the Graduate Program in Acoustics , the only acoustics program in the United States . Athletics . Penn State ' s mascot is the Nittany Lion , a representation of a type of mountain lion that once roamed what is now University Park . The school ' s official colors , now blue and white , were originally black and dark pink . Penn State participates in the NCAA Division I - A and in the Big Ten Conference for most sports . A few sports participate in different conferences : men ' s volleyball in the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association ( EIVA ) ; men ' s lacrosse in the Colonial Athletic Association ( CAA ) ; women ' s lacrosse in American Lacrosse conference ; and hockey ( American Collegiate Hockey Association ) . The fencing teams operate as independents . Athletic teams at Penn State have won 65 national collegiate team championships ( 37 NCAA , 2 consensus Division I football titles , 6 AIAW , 3 USWLA , 1 WIBC , and 4 national titles in boxing , 11 in men ' s soccer and one in wrestling in years prior to NCAA sponsorship ) . There have been another 53 national collegiate championships , by either individuals or club teams . The 37 NCAA Championships ranks eighth all time in NCAA Division I , and is the most of any Big Ten school . Recent championships won include Women ' s Rugby , Men ' s Gymnastics , Men ' s / Women ' s Fencing , Women ' s Volleyball in 2007 , Men ' s Volleyball , and Women ' s Volleyball in 2008 and 2009 and Men ' s / Women ' s Fencing in 2009 won their respective national titles . Since joining the Big Ten in 1991 , Penn State teams have won 48 regular season conference titles and 11 tournament titles , including eleven consecutive titles in women ' s soccer ( second longest streak in Big Ten athletic history ) , and six straight in women ' s volleyball ( the longest streak in Big Ten volleyball history ) . Penn State has one of the most successful overall athletic programs in the country , as evidenced by its rankings in the NACDA Director ' s Cup , a list compiled by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics that charts institutions ' overall success in college sports . From the Cup ' s inception in the 1993 – 1994 season through the 2007 – 2008 season , the Nittany Lions have finished in the top 10 eight times and the top five four times , and have finished in the top 25 every year . In 1999 , " Sporting News " named Penn State as the country ' s best overall athletic program , citing its consistent and wide - ranging athletic successes along with its athletes ' long - standing tradition of excelling in the classroom . Penn State placed 6th in " Sports Illustrated " ' s top 25 rankings for athletic success for the 2007 - 08 academic year , the highest of any Big Ten school . Penn State student - athletes receive academic honors that often far exceed those awarded to other Division 1 - A schools . In the 2007 - 08 academic year , a school record 261 Penn State Student - Athletes earned Academic All - Big Ten honors . Penn State leads the Big Ten with 3 , 069 selections . Despite widespread success in the overall athletic program , however , the school is best known for its football team , which draws a very large following . Penn State ' s Beaver Stadium has the second largest seating capacity of any stadium in the nation , slightly behind Michigan Stadium . The football team is led by legendary coach Joe Paterno , who at 83 is in his 45th year as head coach ( as of the 2010 season ) . Joe Paterno was in a close competition with Bobby Bowden , the head coach for Florida State , for the most wins ever in Division I - A ( now the FBS ) history . This competition effectively ended with Paterno still leading following Bowden ' s retirement after the 2010 Gator Bowl . Entering the 2010 campaign , Paterno had 394 total career wins . He won his 400th game , a huge comeback with the final score 35 - 21 against Northwestern University , on November 6 , 2010 . In 2007 he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame . In 2009 , Cael Sanderson became the head coach of Penn State ' s wrestling team . The University opened a new Penn State All - Sports Museum in February 2002 . This two - level museum is located inside Beaver Stadium . In addition to the school funded athletics , club sports also play a major role in the University , with over 68 club sport organizations meeting regularly to date . Many club teams compete nationally in their respective sports . The Penn State Ski Team , which competes as part of the United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association ( USCSA ) in the Allegheny Conference , as well as the Penn State Swim Club , which competes in the American Swimming Association - University League ( ASAU ) , are just a few examples . Some other clubs include baseball , squash , karate , crew and sailing . Penn State ' s most well - known athletic cheer is " We are . . . Penn State . " Typically , the students and cheerleaders shout " We are , " followed by a response of " Penn State " from the rest of the fans . This is typically done three or four times , and followed by " Thank you . . . " " . . . you ' re welcome ! " when completed . The cheer is by no means restricted to sporting events , as prospective students touring the campus ( with the aid of either the Lion Scouts or Lion Ambassadors ) will hear plenty of these chants from current students . Notable Student Organizations . As of November 2009 , 778 student organizations were recognized at the University Park campus . In addition , Penn State has one of the largest Greek systems in the country , with approximately 12 percent of the University Park population affiliated . University Park Undergraduate Association ( UPUA ) . In terms of student representation , undergraduate students at Penn State ' s University Park campus are represented by the University Park Undergraduate Association ( UPUA ) . UPUA comprises an Executive Board , an Assembly of Student Representatives , and a Board of Arbitration . Current Executive Board members include : President Christian Ragland , Vice President Colleen Smith , Chief of Staff Dustin Dove , Governmental Affairs Director Travis Salters , Student Life & Diversity Director Michal Berns , and Commission on Safety Chair Michael Chang . Council of Commonwealth Student Governments ( CCSG ) . The official Commonwealth Campus Student Government at Penn State is the Council of Commonwealth Student Governments ( CCSG ) . CCSG meets typically 3 times a semester at University Park , with two representatives from each commonwealth campus . The CCSG Central Staff , while based out of the University Park Campus , deals with issues affecting commonwealth campus students . Association of Residence Hall Students ( ARHS ) . For on - campus student residents , the official student government is the Association of Residence Hall Students ( ARHS ) . Each of the residence areas on the University Park campus also features its own student government . Other . The Penn State Glee Club , founded in 1888 , is the oldest student organization on campus , and has reached a broad audience with their annual spring break tour , which has led them to many destinations around the globe . Another organization rich in history is the Penn State Thespians , who have performed theatre at University Park since 1898 , and are the oldest continuously - active student - run organization on campus ( the Glee Club having been temporarily suspended during the Second World War ) . Additionally , the Penn State Blue Band , founded in 1899 , performs during halftime at football games and at other university functions , and was honored with the Sudler Trophy in 2005 . The Trophy , which has been presented by the John Philip Sousa Foundation since 1982 , is regarded as the nation ' s highest accolade for collegiate bands . Student Life & Diversity . Allegations of Discrimination . Penn State has been the subject of controversy for several issues of discrimination . In response , in 1990 a vice provost for educational equity was appointed to lead a five - year strategic plan to " create an environment characterized by equal access and respected participation for all groups and individuals irrespective of cultural differences . " Since then , discrimination issues include the handling of death threats in 1992 and 2001 , controversy around LGBT issues , and the investigation of a 2006 sexual discrimination lawsuit filed by former Lady Lions basketball player Jennifer Harris , alleging that head coach Rene Portland dismissed her from the team in part due to her perceived sexual orientation . Media . Penn State Live is the Official News Source of the University . The student - run newspaper is " The Daily Collegian " . It is published every weekday while classes are in session . Since the summer of 1996 , the traditional paper publication has been supplemented by an online edition , known as " The Digital Collegian " . Onward State has recently gained standing as an alternative media outlet to The Daily Collegian . It is a blog centered around the Penn State community . Also long time local web site StateCollege . com has expanded its news coverage of the university and the local community . In addition , Penn State ' s newspaper readership program provides free copies of USA Today , The New York Times , as well as local and regional newspapers depending on the campus location ( for example , the " Centre Daily Times " in University Park ) . This program , initiated by President Graham Spanier in 1997 , has since been instituted on nearly 400 other universities across the country . La Vie ( the Life ) , the Penn State University annual student yearbook , has been in production documenting student life continuously since 1890 . " La Vie 1987 , " edited by David Beagin , won a College Gold Crown for Yearbooks award from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association . The student - run radio station is The LION 90 . 7 fm ( WKPS - FM ) . Founded in 1995 as a replacement for Penn State ' s original student radio station WDFM , The LION broadcasts from the ground floor of the HUB - Robeson Center , serving the Penn State and State College communities with alternative music and talk programming , including live coverage of home Penn State football games . The LION ' s signal can be heard in the greater State College area at 90 . 7 FM and anywhere in the world via its live 24 / 7 webstream at www . theLION . fm . The LION ' s programming grid can be found at www . thelion . fm / shows / . In addition , the Penn State College of Communications operates ComRadio . It was founded in the spring of 2003 as an internet - based audio laboratory and co - curricular training environment for aspiring student broadcasters . ComRadio is most well known for its coverage of most major Penn State sporting events . ComRadio also airs student - produced Penn State news . Other programming includes student talk shows , political coverage , AP syndicated news and soft rock music . In recent years , ComRadio broadcasters have won numerous state awards for their on - air work . The station ' s sports department prides itself on the broadcasts of every home and away football game , including bowl games , and its coverage of the NFL Draft live from New York City . The student - run humor magazine is " Phroth " , which publishes two to four issues each year . " Phroth " ' s roots date back to 1909 when it was called " Froth " . Several Froth writers and editors have gone on to win fame : Julius J . Epstein wrote the screenplay for " Casablanca " and won three Academy Awards ; Jimmy Dugan wrote for the S " aturday Evening Post " , " National Geographic " and " The New York Times " ; and Ronald Bonn was a producer with " NBC Nightly News " and " CBS Evening News " .