State College, PA 16801, Top 100 Universities in USA 2014 – Rank – 10, Penn State University In Pennsylvania
State College, PA 16801, Top 100 Universities in USA 2014 – Rank – 10, Penn State University In Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania State University
University Park, State College, PA 16801, United States
The Pennsylvania State University (commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU) is a public, state-related research university with campuses and facilities throughout Pennsylvania. Founded in 1855, the university has a stated threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service. Its instructional mission[8] includes undergraduate, graduate, professional and continuing education offered through resident instruction and online delivery. Its University Park campus, the flagship campus, lies within the Borough of State College and College Township. The Penn State Dickinson School of Law has facilities located in both Carlisle and State College and the College of Medicine is located in Hershey. Penn State has another 19 commonwealth campuses and 5 special-mission campuses located across the state.[9] Penn State has been labeled one of the “Public Ivies,” a publicly funded university considered as providing a quality of education comparable to those of the Ivy League.[10][11]
Annual enrollment at the University Park campus totals more than 45,000 graduate and undergraduate students, making it one of thelargest universities in the United States. It has the world’s largest dues-paying alumni association.[12] The university’s total enrollment in 2009–10 was approximately 94,300 across its 24 campuses[13] and online through its World Campus.[14]
The university offers more than 160 majors among all its campuses[15] and administers $2.03 billion (as of June 30, 2013) in endowment and similar funds.[16] The university’s research expenditures exceeded $753 million for the 2009 fiscal year and was ranked 9th among U.S. universities in research income[17] by the National Science Foundation.
Annually, the university hosts the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON), which is the world’s largest student-run philanthropy.[18] This event is held in the Bryce Jordan Center on the University Park campus. In 2014, THON raised a program record of $13.3 million.[19] The university’s athletics teams compete in Division I of the NCAA and are collectively known as the Penn State Nittany Lions. They compete in the Big Ten Conference for most sports.
Rankings
| University rankings | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| ARWU[88] | 37 |
| Forbes[89] | 93 |
| U.S. News & World Report[90] | 37 |
| Washington Monthly[91] | 91 |
| Global | |
| ARWU[92] | 54 |
| QS[93] | 107 |
| Times[94] | 49 |
The 2013 Academic Ranking of World Universities ranks the university 54th among universities worldwide and 37th nationally. U.S. News & World Report ranks the university’s undergraduate program 37th in its 2014 American’s Best College[95] and 8th among Top Public Schools in the United States.[96] In 2012, the university was also ranked 101st in the QS World University Rankings.[97] A more updated 2013-2014 World University Ranking by Times Higher Education ranks Penn State as the 49th best university in the world.[98] Similarly, the 2013 report by the Center for World University Rankings ranks the university as Top 50 in the world.[99]
According to a Wall Street Journal survey released in September 2010, the university was ranked number 1 among 479 corporate recruiting executives who were asked to identify “whose bachelor degree graduates were the best-trained and educated, and best able to succeed once hired.”.[100][101]
Penn State was ranked 9th in The Princeton Review‘s 2014 list of top party schools.
