Established in 1855, Pennsylvania State University is a public research institution with 24 campuses including the flagship location in University Park, also known as Happy Valley. Penn State is regarded as a Public Ivy, offering more than 160 undergraduate majors. The Penn State Nittany Lions sports teams compete in the NCAA Division I Big Ten Conference and the football team plays in Beaver Stadium, the second largest stadium in the United States. The majority of students at Penn State live in off-campus housing, with plenty of rental properties located near campus and a university-sponsored Office of Off-Campus Living. The university’s motto is “We are Penn State,” boasting an atmosphere of inclusiveness and a bond rooted in tradition. With over 800 student organizations, there are many ways to forge a niche in a large campus. The annual Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, abbreviated THON, is considered the world’s largest student-run philanthropy and draws thousands of participants.
Penn State's Old Main Bell Tower is a landmark dating back to 1863
Football fans cheer on the Penn State Nittany Lions
Discover tips on finding the perfect off-campus housing near Penn State. Optimize your student lifestyle with our comprehensive guide.
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Pennsylvania State University - University Park, PA (University) is for everyday living.
Moderately Walkable
Walkability
Good Public Transit
Transit
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
Very Bikeable
Bikeability
Essentials are more spread out in Pennsylvania State University - University Park, PA (University), so everyday errands require more planning.
Supermarket Within a 30 Minute Walk
Groceries
Fair Restaurant Variety Nearby
Restaurants
Fair Café Variety Nearby
Cafes
Fair Variety of Shops Nearby
Shopping
Get a sense of what it’s like to live in Pennsylvania State University - University Park, PA (University) from everyday activity to noise and nightlife.
Vibrant Atmosphere at Times
Vibrancy
Limited Nightlife Variety Nearby
Nightlife
Moderately Noisy
Quiet Score
3,486
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† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.
