Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $39,694. College Scorecard.
Net price by family income
Average after grants and scholarships for Pennsylvania residents receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard, latest reported year
Sticker price, line by line
| Per year, living on campus | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $20,644 | $41,790 |
| Housing & meals | $13,030 | $13,030 |
| Books & supplies | $1,840 | $1,840 |
| Personal & travel | $4,788 | $4,788 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$608 | −$608 |
| Total cost of attendance | $39,694 | $60,840 |
Cost items: IPEDS 2023-24, on-campus budget. Total: College Scorecard, which averages students living on and off campus; the adjustment row reconciles the two. Out-of-state total = in-state total with out-of-state tuition.
Debt after graduation
College Scorecard; Urban Institute Education Data Portal
Who gets aid
State aid: Pennsylvania residents with financial need may receive a PA State Grant: up to $6,000 a year in 2026-27 at approved colleges, depending on need and the college. Not included in the prices above. Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), PA State Grant
College Scorecard
Need-based and merit aid at Pennsylvania State University
What Pennsylvania State University reported for full-time first-year students in fall 2025. Merit aid is the money net price averages miss for families who don't qualify for need-based aid.
If you qualify for need-based aid
If you don't qualify for need-based aid
Items H2-H2A. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
Pennsylvania State University net price compared with other Pennsylvania colleges
Pennsylvania State University has the 103rd-lowest average net price of 114 Pennsylvania colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Avg. net price | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99 | Bryn Mawr College | $31,759 | 82% | $75,217 |
| 100 | Carnegie Mellon University | $31,944 | 94% | $114,862 |
| 101 | University of Valley Forge | $32,265 | 49% | $39,016 |
| 102 | University of Scranton | $32,568 | 80% | $74,652 |
| 103 | Pennsylvania State University | $32,875 | 86% | $63,435 |
| 104 | Lafayette College | $34,433 | 88% | $91,410 |
| 105 | Franklin and Marshall College | $36,425 | 84% | $76,124 |
| 106 | Lehigh University | $36,931 | 88% | $105,584 |
| 107 | Misericordia University | $37,485 | 72% | $64,313 |
College Scorecard, latest year. Average for all aided students; your price depends on income. All Pennsylvania colleges →
Why Pennsylvania State University costs more or less than similar schools
| School | Acceptance | You'd pay | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs | Price gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State University | 61% | $32,875 | 86% | $63,435 | This school |
| University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | 58% | $30,434 | 86% | $66,125 | |
| Temple University | 80% | $28,198 | 75% | $63,727 | |
| West Chester University of Pennsylvania | 78% | $23,331 | 71% | $61,258 | |
| Pennsylvania College of Technology | — | $25,110 | 53% | $52,567 |
College Scorecard, latest reported year. “You'd pay” follows your residency and income choices above.
Why the price is different
Pennsylvania State University would cost you $2,441 more per year than University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus, on average.
- Higher sticker price at Pennsylvania State University, mostly from a higher estimate for personal & travel costs (+$1,870).
- University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus gives aided families $852 more in grants, on average.
| Per year, Pennsylvania resident | Pennsylvania State University | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $20,644 | $21,926 | −$1,282 |
| Books & supplies | $1,840 | $584 | +$1,256 |
| Housing & meals | $13,030 | $13,420 | −$390 |
| Personal & travel | $4,788 | $2,918 | +$1,870 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$608 | −$743 | +$135 |
| Sticker price | $39,694 | $38,105 | +$1,589 |
| Average grants | −$6,819 | −$7,671 | +$852 |
| You pay | $32,875 | $30,434 | +$2,441 |
“+” means Pennsylvania State University costs more; “−” means it costs less. Grants are the sticker price minus the net price. Cost items: IPEDS, on-campus budget. Sticker and net price: College Scorecard, latest reported year; the adjustment reconciles the two. Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote.
Pennsylvania State University cost questions
How much is tuition at Pennsylvania State University?
Tuition and fees are $20,644 a year for Pennsylvania residents and $41,790 for out-of-state students.
What is the total cost of attending Pennsylvania State University?
The total cost of attendance, including housing, meals, books and personal costs, is $39,694 a year for Pennsylvania residents living on campus and about $60,840 for out-of-state students.
What do families actually pay at Pennsylvania State University?
After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $32,875 a year on average. Families earning $0–30k pay $19,845; $48–75k pay $25,667; $110k+ pay $37,831. These figures are for Pennsylvania residents.
Does Pennsylvania State University give merit scholarships?
For fall 2025, 552 full-time first-year students with no financial need received merit scholarships or grants from Pennsylvania State University, averaging $6,026 (Common Data Set 2025-26, excluding athletic awards). Students with need had 69% of it met on average.
How much debt do Pennsylvania State University graduates have?
The median federal loan debt at graduation is $19,500.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By). Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote; confirm with the school's net price calculator. Back to Pennsylvania State University overview