OT - USNews ranks PSU 23rd among public universities

ApexLion

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It's 19K. I think it was like 12K when I went there 25 years ago. While it's on the high end of "state schools," it's not an outrageous amount, especially when you consider that private schools are almost all sitting in the 55-64K range (and I believe they were mostly in the mid-30s or so 25 years ago.
Not a good comparison. No scholarships. Expensive out of state tuition.
 
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fairgambit

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Not a good comparison. No scholarships. Expensive out of state tuition.
Know a young lady (family friend) who lived out of PA but wanted to go to Penn State. Minority student. 2nd in her class. Well spoken. Many school activities. Got no scholarship money from Penn State. Accepted into higher rated private school. With scholarship money it was cheaper than Penn State. This was 7/8 years ago. Graduated with honors. Now making over 100 K and just donated 10K to her alma mater.
 
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Nitwit

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I believe I wrote:
"Tied for 8th/9th - with Rutgers
Northwestern, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Maryland, Ohio State, and Purdue above Penn State. "

I am trying to find the "error" there :)

But, yes, of course, that is a commendable achievement.
Taking over a University ranked only behind Northwestern and Michigan - and parlaying those resources into a ranking below 5 more of the Big Ten schools - Illinois, Wisconsin, Maryland, Ohio State, and Purdue - and tying with Rutgers :unsure: .
That, I believe, was the point.

Do you have a point? If not, feel free - however you want to count your digits - to celebrate that "eliteness" to your heart's content. That seems to be your quest, far be it for me to interfere.
Northwestern is private, so it’s 7.
 

LionJim

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Funny thing is, when Penn State was ranked much higher. very few here were saying that these sort of rankings were a joke.
Villanova has two PhD programs, in Philosophy and in Theology. Two.

 
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GrimReaper

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Funny thing is, when Penn State was ranked much higher. very few here were saying that these sort of rankings were a joke.
Can't speak for others, but I've said they were a joke for at least 15 years. Any university president should say the same thing, but they know that the rankngs drive undergraduate applications.
 

GrimReaper

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Not a good comparison. No scholarships. Expensive out of state tuition.

Know a young lady (family friend) who lived out of PA but wanted to go to Penn State. Minority student. 2nd in her class. Well spoken. Many school activities. Got no scholarship money from Penn State. Accepted into higher rated private school. With scholarship money it was cheaper than Penn State. This was 7/8 years ago. Graduated with honors. Now making over 100 K and just donated 10K to her alma mater.

Years ago, one of the rankings rags rated schools on financial aid. PSU was the second most stingy, behind NYU.
 

Nits74

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Not surprising. Re: NYU, haven't they made their medical school essentially free? Valued somewhere in the neighborhood of $60,000/yr.
 

ApexLion

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Know a young lady (family friend) who lived out of PA but wanted to go to Penn State. Minority student. 2nd in her class. Well spoken. Many school activities. Got no scholarship money from Penn State. Accepted into higher rated private school. With scholarship money it was cheaper than Penn State. This was 7/8 years ago. Graduated with honors. Now making over 100 K and just donated 10K to her alma mater.
My kids won't even look at PSU. Why? While it's true I'm mad at the BOT, its actually quite simple: I told my four, here's a challenge. Beat the in-state UNC number (25k per year all in) at an out of state school of your choice and we'll drive or fly you there, no questions. So my first two said okay and found Miami University at 22k per year out of state (all expenses) with scholarships. My second is at the University of New Mexico at 17k per year all in with scholarships. Meanwhile their cousins from Danville who were both valedictorians spend 32k a year at PSU. That's 32k a year in-state. Out of state is up over 50k per year. Why would I spend double or possibly triple to send a kid to PSU? It's their first degrees after all.
 

LBUfanatic

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My kids won't even look at PSU. Why? While it's true I'm mad at the BOT, its actually quite simple: I told my four, here's a challenge. Beat the in-state UNC number (25k per year all in) at an out of state school of your choice and we'll drive or fly you there, no questions. So my first two said okay and found Miami University at 22k per year out of state (all expenses) with scholarships. My second is at the University of New Mexico at 17k per year all in with scholarships. Meanwhile their cousins from Danville who were both valedictorians spend 32k a year at PSU. That's 32k a year in-state. Out of state is up over 50k per year. Why would I spend double or possibly triple to send a kid to PSU? It's their first degrees after all.
That was your personal decision and that of your children. For others, Penn State is their dream school and a lifelong pursuit — whether in-state or out-of-state. I have friend in Maryland whose son got accepted to University of Maryland, which is $25k all in. He is now at Penn State at 2X that amount. Does that make his decision wrong? No.
 

LionJim

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That was your personal decision and that of your children. For others, Penn State is their dream school and a lifelong pursuit — whether in-state or out-of-state. I have friend in Maryland whose son got accepted to University of Maryland, which is $25k all in. He is now at Penn State at 2X that amount. Does that make his decision wrong? No.
Just curious, what major?
 

GrimReaper

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Not surprising. Re: NYU, haven't they made their medical school essentially free? Valued somewhere in the neighborhood of $60,000/yr.
Yes, thanks to Ken Langone who contributed $100mm to a $450mm endowment and was instrumental in raising the rest.
 

Moogy

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Not a good comparison. No scholarships. Expensive out of state tuition.

It's not expensive out of state, compared to many other options (state schools and private schools). They have Provost's Awards, though I don't know how free they are with those scholarships.
 

fairgambit

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That was your personal decision and that of your children. For others, Penn State is their dream school and a lifelong pursuit — whether in-state or out-of-state. I have friend in Maryland whose son got accepted to University of Maryland, which is $25k all in. He is now at Penn State at 2X that amount. Does that make his decision wrong? No.
Whether the decision is right or wrong is often not known until after graduation. If money is not an object it may not matter. If it is, and a grad is carrying a heavy debt load because they went to their "dream school", they may long rue their decision.
As an aside. I wonder if your friend's son would still choose PSU if he was told that if he picked Maryland he could use the money saved as a graduation present of his choice. Corvette, trip to Europe, new house. It might not matter but if it was me, I'd take the Vette.
 
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anon1712773474

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From some of the things I have read and seen on the news, PSU appears to becoming the wokest of them all...starting with the pronoun police. It is good to be first at something.
Woke meaning, being alert of racial prejudice and discrimination. I’ll take it.
 

Moogy

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My kids won't even look at PSU. Why? While it's true I'm mad at the BOT, its actually quite simple: I told my four, here's a challenge. Beat the in-state UNC number (25k per year all in) at an out of state school of your choice and we'll drive or fly you there, no questions. So my first two said okay and found Miami University at 22k per year out of state (all expenses) with scholarships. My second is at the University of New Mexico at 17k per year all in with scholarships. Meanwhile their cousins from Danville who were both valedictorians spend 32k a year at PSU. That's 32k a year in-state. Out of state is up over 50k per year. Why would I spend double or possibly triple to send a kid to PSU? It's their first degrees after all.

Everyone has their own criteria for what makes a diploma worthwhile. To me, paying virtually the same to go to a markedly lesser school in a less desirable area wouldn't make sense (why not UNC in-state?), unless the kid was dead set on that particular campus, for some odd reason.

I'm not saying PSU is the cheapest option ... I just hadn't looked at the cost recently, and the way folks were talking about it, I had thought it was just obscene ... a little expensive as an in-state option (but with tons of possibilities, and options for fun), but still remarkably affordable (comparatively to the general college landscape) and, for out-of-staters, it's cheaper than sending kids to a private school, in most instances.
 
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JVP_Yahweh

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It’s also ranked tied for 7th in the Big10 on this list. Many of its individual programs are ranked much higher, including the world campus, engineering, business, graduate programs, and veterans’ education.


Penn State World Campus has been included in the 2022 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Online Programs rankings.

The annual rankings, which were released January 25, placed Penn State World Campus on lists for graduate degree programs, including engineering, business, education, and information technology; bachelor’s degree programs; and the best programs for veterans.

Here are the full rankings of the program categories:

  • No. 3 (tie), graduate engineering programs
  • No. 8 (tie), graduate education programs
  • No. 12 (tie), graduate business (non-MBA) programs
  • No. 13, graduate computer/IT programs
  • No. 15, MBA
  • No. 16 (tie), bachelor’s degree programs
U.S. News considered more than 380 colleges and universities in its bachelor’s programs rankings by reviewing surveys submitted by the institutions. U.S. News rated the institutions on categories of engagement, services and technology, faculty credentials and training, and expert opinion.

The surveys for graduate degree programs measured those four categories as well as student excellence.

Best online degree programs for veterans​

U.S. News also ranked Penn State World Campus on its Best Online Programs for Veterans lists.

Those rankings are based on the same factors as its Best Online Programs rankings, in addition to an institution’s ability to make college more affordable and accessible through the GI Bill®, scholarships, and financial aid programs designed for military students.

Here are the rankings for Best Online Programs for Veterans:

  • No. 3 (tie), graduate engineering
  • No. 3, graduate education
  • No. 5, graduate business (non-MBA)
  • No. 8, graduate computer/IT
  • No. 10 (tie), MBA
  • No. 11 (tie), bachelor’s programs

Specialty rankings​

The Best Online Programs 2022 edition includes rankings of specific disciplines within the program categories. The specialties rankings were based on ratings provided by peer institutions.

Highlights for Penn State World Campus include the No. 2 rankings for graduate industrial engineering, bachelor’s in business, and bachelor’s in psychology. Here are the full specialty rankings:

  • No. 2, bachelor’s in business
  • No. 2, bachelor’s in psychology
  • No. 2 (tie), graduate industrial engineering
  • No. 3, graduate educational/instructional media design
  • No. 3, graduate engineering management
  • No. 4 (tie), graduate mechanical engineering
  • No. 5 (tie), graduate curriculum and instruction
  • No. 7, graduate electrical engineering
  • No. 7 (tie), graduate finance
  • No. 7 (tie), graduate general management
  • No. 7 (tie), graduate special education
  • No. 10 (tie), graduate education administration and supervision
  • No. 10 (tie), graduate marketing
  • No. 15 (tie), graduate business analytics
Penn State was one of the pioneers in online higher education when it launched Penn State World Campus in 1998.

Now, almost 25 years later, Penn State World Campus offers more than 175 degree and certificate programs online and counts more than 15,000 students around the globe and more than 30,000 alumni.
These are numbers to be Penn State Proud of. Dr. Graham Spanier deserves a lot of credit for his vision to move the university forward into the 21st century. I know some don't like him but you gotta give the man credit
 

OaktonDave

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My kids won't even look at PSU. Why? While it's true I'm mad at the BOT, its actually quite simple: I told my four, here's a challenge. Beat the in-state UNC number (25k per year all in) at an out of state school of your choice and we'll drive or fly you there, no questions. So my first two said okay and found Miami University at 22k per year out of state (all expenses) with scholarships. My second is at the University of New Mexico at 17k per year all in with scholarships. Meanwhile their cousins from Danville who were both valedictorians spend 32k a year at PSU. That's 32k a year in-state. Out of state is up over 50k per year. Why would I spend double or possibly triple to send a kid to PSU? It's their first degrees after all.
My son is looking at Penn State, but the cost may make it prohibitive. It's not just the tuition, as others have mentioned, PSU is not good when it comes to financial aid. I'm not making the call on schools because my financial contribution to his education is coming in the form of a college fund my wife and I established for him when he was one. The rest is on him.
 

ApexLion

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Everyone has their own criteria for what makes a diploma worthwhile. To me, paying virtually the same to go to a markedly lesser school in a less desirable area wouldn't make sense (why not UNC in-state?), unless the kid was dead set on that particular campus, for some odd reason.

I'm not saying PSU is the cheapest option ... I just hadn't looked at the cost recently, and the way folks were talking about it, I had thought it was just obscene ... a little expensive as an in-state option (but with tons of possibilities, and options for fun), but still remarkably affordable (comparatively to the general college landscape) and, for out-of-staters, it's cheaper than sending kids to a private school, in most instances.
My kids grew up on the unc campus - for them it’s an extension of hs. They got in but wanted to go elsewhere for undergrad and come back for grad/med school.
 
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ApexLion

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That was your personal decision and that of your children. For others, Penn State is their dream school and a lifelong pursuit — whether in-state or out-of-state. I have friend in Maryland whose son got accepted to University of Maryland, which is $25k all in. He is now at Penn State at 2X that amount. Does that make his decision wrong? No.
Seems ridiculous for undergrad. Not the decision but our administration’s decision making that led to a 2x decision for parents and students. Something is wrong with that scenario.
 

ApexLion

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Whether the decision is right or wrong is often not known until after graduation. If money is not an object it may not matter. If it is, and a grad is carrying a heavy debt load because they went to their "dream school", they may long rue their decision.
As an aside. I wonder if your friend's son would still choose PSU if he was told that if he picked Maryland he could use the money saved as a graduation present of his choice. Corvette, trip to Europe, new house. It might not matter but if it was me, I'd take the Vette.
I have a story about my college roommate and his daughter who graduated from Schreyer last spring.

He offered her an 85k Mercedes upon graduation if she chose in-state honors at FSU. The daughter and mom said no - pay up for PSU. And he did.
 
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fairgambit

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I have a story about my college roommate and his daughter who graduated from Schreyer last spring.

He offered her an 85k Mercedes upon graduation if she chose in-state honors at FSU. The daughter and mom said no - pay up for PSU. And he did.
Schreyer, aside, which is the gem of the Penn State system and worthy of praise, if ratings continue to tumble, fewer and fewer quality students will choose Dear Old State. We may never compete with the Ivy's, or Stanford, or even Michigan, but we should damn well be top 5 in the BigTen and beating schools like Pitt.
 
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