Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0State College is a college town: 66 of every 100 residents are students
Pennsylvania State University (50,120 students on campus) and South Hills School of Business & Technology (242) are inside the borough. Across Pennsylvania, 6 of every 100 residents are enrolled in college.
From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of State College. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college in State College
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
What it’s like to live in State College
How much the colleges shape the town, from the Census Bureau’s survey of residents.
66 of every 100 State College residents are in college (PA: 6).
How students change State College’s other numbers
Read the town’s other grades with this in mind. How TownRatings handles college towns →
Students who live off campus count in the Census poverty figures: 38.6% of State College residents are below the poverty line, 11.4% when college students are left out (that estimate could be off by 9 points either way). 70% of the students themselves are below the line. In college towns, the Jobs & income grade uses the rate without students and leaves unemployment out.
The Cost grade leaves out the share of renters paying 30% or more of income on rent wherever students are a quarter of residents or more (66% here): it would mostly measure student incomes.
CDC’s estimates follow each place’s age mix, and State College’s median age is 21.2 (Pennsylvania 40.9), so the adult figures describe a young population.
Crime is counted per resident, and students who live here count as residents. A college with its own police department reports its incidents under that department, not the city.
Colleges within 15 miles of State College
One private college within 1.1 miles, two public colleges within 0.5 miles, and Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology 8.7 miles away.
Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.
What would your family pay?
The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $30–48k, where State College’s median household income ($45,424) falls.
The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of State College: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Pennsylvania State (22); Pennsylvania State University-World Campus (22).
What students study in State College
Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across State College’s 2 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.
Biggest programs
College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating. Left out: Pennsylvania State University-World Campus, where most students study only online.
Questions about college in State College
Is State College a college town?
Yes. 66 of every 100 State College residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), against 6 across Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania State University has 50,120 students on campus, next to 40,844 residents.
What colleges are in State College?
Pennsylvania State University, South Hills School of Business & Technology and Pennsylvania State University-World Campus are inside the borough. Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology is 8.7 miles away in Pleasant Gap.
Why is State College’s poverty rate so high?
Students who live off campus count in the Census figures. 38.6% of residents are below the poverty line; leaving college students out, 11.4% are (ACS 2020–24, give or take 9 points).
What is the closest community college to State College, and what does it cost?
Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology in Pleasant Gap, 8.7 miles away.
How hard is it to get into Pennsylvania State University?
Pennsylvania State University admitted 61% of applicants in the Scorecard’s latest year; the middle half of admitted students scored 1,240–1,420 on the SAT.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of State College. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →