The Pennsylvania State University is a public land-grant institution founded in 1855. It operates 24 campuses across Pennsylvania and serves nearly 90,000 students, with additional reach worldwide through its World Campus online programme. The university employs approximately 20,000 faculty and staff.
Penn State's mission centres on expanding access to education, driving discovery through teaching, research, and public service, and addressing critical challenges facing both the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the broader world. This land-grant orientation shapes the institution's emphasis on community partnerships, breakthrough research, and producing graduates guided by principled values.
With an alumni network of over 750,000 worldwide, Penn State has operated under a consistent set of core values for nearly 170 years. Staff and faculty roles span a wide range of academic, research, administrative, and support functions across its campuses and online operations.