Even by the standards of world-class, state-run research universities, Pennsylvania State University (universally known as “Penn State”) is utterly massive. It takes 24 campuses to house its 100,000-plus students and 17,000 faculty and staff statewide. The flagship campus is found in the centrally located, purpose-built town of University Park.
In many ways Penn State is more of a state-wide unified system of colleges working under one federation than a single university. The university runs one of the largest graduate schools in the U.S., and cycles through more than $2 million in research every day.
In addition to the over $800 million spent annually on research, Penn State also generates $100 million in industry and private funding each year. Its hospital-integrated medical school treats over 1 million patients annually.
Penn State’s more than half-million alumni have access to the largest required-dues alumni association in the U.S., with over 275 branches across the globe. The school also runs an online campus and the world’s largest student-organized and -led philanthropic society.
