by our College Data Analytics TeamLook up current in-state and out-of-state tuition and fees at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus, along with how those costs compare to other schools and how they have changed.
In the latest reported year, in-state undergraduate tuition and fees at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus were $20,644 per year. Out-of-state undergraduates paid $41,790. The difference reflects the in-state residency discount.
Of that total, required fees amounted to $578 in-state and $578 out-of-state; the remainder is straight tuition.
| In-State | Out-of-State | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $20,066 | $41,212 |
| Fees | $578 | $578 |
| Total | $20,644 | $41,790 |
These tuition and fee numbers are for one year of attendance and do not include room and board.
Note that plenty of students are eligible for financial aid and scholarships that bring down the real cost they pay. The figures here are the published sticker price.
How much will Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus charge part-time students? See the Cost Per Credit Hour page for the per-credit figures.
For perspective, here is how Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus tuition and fees compare to other colleges. Each label reflects how the school sits versus the average of that group.
| Nationwide | In PA | Similar Colleges | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State Tuition & Fees | Expensive | Expensive | Expensive |
| In-State Tuition & Fees | Average | Average | Expensive |
Compared to colleges across the country, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus runs on the expensive side.
Bear in mind that aid packages often lower the real cost well below these published figures. Visit the Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Financial Aid page for specifics.
Take a look at how tuition at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus has moved over the last few reported years.
| Year | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| Three Years Ago | $18,368 | $35,946 |
| Two Years Ago | $19,286 | $38,102 |
| One Year Ago | $19,672 | $39,626 |
| Most Recent Year | $20,066 | $41,212 |
The chart here shows how tuition at Penn State University Park has shifted across recent years.
From the prior year, out-of-state tuition went up 4.0%. Projecting that pace ahead one year puts tuition + fees around $43,462 for the coming year.
Tuition tends to creep up year over year at most schools, so the figure you see today is unlikely to be the figure you pay across all four years.
Get answers to frequently asked questions about college tuition and fees for additional information.
In-state tuition and fees rose at an average annual pace of 3.00%, so in-state cost a year out lands around $21,263. For out-of-state students, the average annual increase was 4.64%, so a year out the out-of-state figure lands around $43,729.
Holding that rate, here is how tuition and fees could track over the next five years:
| Academic Year | In-State Tuition & Fees | Out-of-State Tuition & Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Next Year | $21,263 | $43,729 |
| In 2 Years | $21,900 | $45,758 |
| In 3 Years | $22,556 | $47,882 |
| In 4 Years | $23,232 | $50,104 |
| In 5 Years | $23,928 | $52,429 |
Plan around the full four-year total, not just a single year — at this pace, four years of out-of-state tuition and fees projects to about $187,473, compared with about $88,951 for in-state students.
A tuition figure is only part of the conversation — scholarships and aid frequently cut what families actually pay.
For details on financial aid availability at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus, see the Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Financial Aid page.
