Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, sometimes known simply as Penn State or PSU, is a public land-grant research institution that has campuses and facilities located all around the state of Pennsylvania. Penn State University was first established in 1855 as the Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania. In 1863, it transitioned into its current role as the sole land-grant institution in the state. It is the purpose of this organisation to educate students at all levels, including undergraduate, graduate, professional, and continuing education, and to give this education both in-person and online.
It is one of just four colleges in the country to have a land-grant status in addition to its participation in the sea-grant, space-grant, and sun-grant research consortia; this makes it particularly unique. The Borough of State College and College Township are both home to the university, however the Borough of State College is home to the University Park campus, which is the biggest and acts as the administrative core. It is home to two schools of law: Penn State Law, which is located on the University Park campus of the institution, and Dickinson Law, which is located in Carlisle. Hershey is home to Penn State's College of Medicine. Penn State University is a single institution that has many campuses located around the state of Pennsylvania. There are a total of 19 Commonwealth campuses situated around the state, in addition to 5 special purpose sites. In 2001, the University of Pennsylvania's University Park campus was given the distinction of being one of the "Public Ivies." This designation indicates that the institution is regarded as having an educational standard that is on par with that of the universities in the Ivy League. At a total of $1.034 billion, Penn State University's research expenditures in 2022 ranked 22nd among research institutions in the United States. This placed Penn State in the top 25.
It is one of the biggest institutions in the United States, with an annual enrolment of more than 46,800 graduate and undergraduate students combined at the University Park campus. It boasts the biggest dues-paying alumni organisation of any institution in the world. For the 2015–2016 academic year, the institution had a total enrolment of roughly 97,500 students across its 24 campuses and through its Global Campus online. More than 160 different academic programmes may be pursued at any of the university's sites.
The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON) is the biggest student-organized charitable event in the world, and it is held at the institution on an annual basis. On the University Park campus is where you'll find the Bryce Jordan Center, which is hosting today's event. A new fundraising programme record of $13.7 million was set in 2022 by THON. The athletics teams of the institution participate in Division I of the NCAA and are known collectively as the Penn State Nittany Lions. They play in the Big Ten Conference for the majority of its sports. With 52 national championships, Penn State University holds the record for the most of any institution in the Big Ten. There have been a total of 54 Olympic medals won by Penn State athletes, including students, graduates, staff members, and coaches (including 17 gold medals).
Among the many illustrious people who graduated from Penn State are several heads of state and cabinet members, recipients of the Pulitzer Prize, Grammy Award, Emmy Award, Newbery Medal, Tony Award, and Academy Award, as well as founders of well-known businesses (Sheetz, Creative Artists Agency, AccuWeather).