Penn State is a multi-campus public research university that educates students from Pennsylvania, the nation and the world, and improves the well being and health of individuals and communities through integrated programs of teaching, research, and service. Penn State offers more than 160 majors in areas such as business, engineering, information technology, and the liberal arts. Our programs are ranked among the best in the United States by the National Science Foundation, U.S. News and World Report, the Princeton Review, Newsweek, and many other national organizations and publications.
Our graduates are very competitive in the job market, with many academic programs having full-time job placement rates at or above 90 percent. Additionally, graduates of our business, engineering, and technology-focused programs often have starting salaries of more than $60,000, with many receiving signing bonuses. A 2010 survey of corporate recruiters by the Wall Street Journal ranked Penn State number one for preparing students for the job market. Employers seek out Penn State graduates.
Penn State graduates are also well-prepared for advanced study in law, medicine and other disciplines. Penn State encourages students to take advantage of internship opportunities during their undergraduate studies and offer many ways for students to connect with potential employers at career fairs and other events hosted by the University's Office of Career Services. Penn State has more than 500,000 alumni, many of whom recruit students for positions at their companies. The value of a Penn State degree is recognized around the world.
Penn State is a Research I university, bringing in more than $700 million in funding annually from the public and private sectors to conduct cutting-edge research in healthcare, cyber-security, and many other fields. Our faculty members include Fulbright scholars, Nobel Prize winners, and National Science Foundation fellows. Our research, scholarship, and creative activity promote human and economic development, global understanding, and progress in professional practice through the expansion of knowledge and the application of that knowledge in the natural and applied sciences, social sciences, arts, humanities, and the professions.
Penn State offers students the opportunity to select from among 1,200 student clubs and organizations, including sports and athletic groups, community service organizations, and religious/cultural groups. Penn State's dance marathon (THON) is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world and, in 2011, raised more than $9 million for pediatric cancer research through the Four Diamonds Fund. Penn State encourages students to get involved from their very first days on campus as a way of becoming part of the Penn State community while bolstering professional experiences through student leadership opportunities.
Penn State has a vibrant international student community with extensive resources available through the Office of Global Programs. The Office of Global Programs is there to help students coming from outside the United States transition to Penn State and life on campus. The Institute for International Education listed Penn State as 18th among US institutions hosting international students.
Each Penn State student also has access to an academic adviser with whom to work to schedule courses and ensure all graduation requirements are being met.
The University has an 85 percent graduation rate and a 92 percent retention rate, meaning 92 percent of students who spend their first year at Penn State return to the University in the subsequent year. Both of these figures are among the highest at all universities in the United States.
Penn State encourages all international students to complete their application for admission by February 1 for summer and fall admission, and by October 1 for spring admission. For more information about Penn State and the application process, visit the Undergraduate Admissions website at: admissions.psu.edu.
Mary is excited to return to Sri Lanka
Mary Adams, Associate Director in the Undergraduate Admissions Office at Penn State, has helped connect international undergraduate students to Penn State for the past 25 years. She has traveled to over 60 countries meeting with students and their families to discuss both the benefits of a US education and the opportunities offered at Penn State. With over 160 baccalaureate degree majors and 20 undergraduate campuses, Penn State provides a broad range of options to students.
Mary has served the international admissions community on a variety of committees and advisory groups including the Council of International Schools, The College Board, The International Baccalaureate, the Cambridge International Examinations and NAFSA: Association of International Educators. She was last here in 2003. |
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