Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania
#134 / #48
Global Influence / U.S. Influence
Public university in Pennsylvania, United States

Pennsylvania State University Featured Rankings

About Pennsylvania State University

By James Barham, PhD

Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) was founded in 1855 as the Farmers’ High School of Pennsylvania.

In 1862, the school’s name was changed to the Agricultural College of Pennsylvania. In 1874 it was changed once again, this time to Pennsylvania State College, at which time a classical liberal arts curriculum was married to the agricultural training program.

In 1953, under the presidency of Milton S. Eisenhower—the brother of former US Army Supreme Commander and then–US President, Dwight D. Eisenhower—the college was upgraded to Pennsylvania State University.

With 23 campuses statewide in addition to the flagship University Park campus, Penn State is the first-tier public university system in Pennsylvania (the University of Pennsylvania being a private institution). With a total student population of more than 96,000, it is one of the largest universities in the US.

Prominent Penn State connected individuals include the following:

  • Poet, Theodore Roethke
  • Novelists, John Barth, Joseph Heller, Alan Furst & Richard Russo
  • Screenwriter, Steven E. de Souza
  • Computer scientists, Jef Raskin & John M. Carroll
  • Physicists, David Bohm, Roger Penrose & Lee Smolin
  • Nobel laureate in chemistry, Paul Berg
  • Climate scientist, Michael E. Mann
  • Plant geneticist, Nina Fedoroff
  • Population geneticist, Masatoshi Nei
  • Anthropologist, Nina Jablonski
  • Radical social critic and Catholic priest, Ivan Illich
  • Online education pioneer, Michael G. Moore
  • Former US Senators Richard Schweiker, Rick Santorum & Kelly Ayotte
  • Prime Minister of Bhutan, Jigme Thinley

According to Wikipedia, The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State and sometimes by the acronymn PSU, is a public state-related land-grant research university with campuses and facilities throughout Pennsylvania. Founded in 1855 as Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania, In 1863, Penn State was named the state's first land-grant university. Its primary campus, known as Penn State University Park, is located in State College and College Township in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania State University's Online Degrees

What Is Pennsylvania State University Known For?

Pennsylvania State University is known for it's academic work in the following disciplines:

Pennsylvania State University's Top Areas of Influence With Degrees Offered

Earth Sciences
#46
World Rank
#64
Historical Rank
#14
USA Rank
Meteorology
#6
World Rank
#13
Historical Rank
#3
USA Rank
Volcanology
#16
World Rank
#18
Historical Rank
#4
USA Rank
Atmospheric Sciences
#11
World Rank
#11
Historical Rank
#6
USA Rank
earth-science Degrees
Engineering
#102
World Rank
#111
Historical Rank
#32
USA Rank
Mining Engineering
#17
World Rank
#17
Historical Rank
#3
USA Rank
Network Science
#8
World Rank
#8
Historical Rank
#5
USA Rank
Materials Science
#36
World Rank
#36
Historical Rank
#7
USA Rank
engineering Degrees
Mathematics
#110
World Rank
#151
Historical Rank
#34
USA Rank
Differential Topology
#45
World Rank
#45
Historical Rank
#16
USA Rank
Number Theory
#98
World Rank
#109
Historical Rank
#26
USA Rank
Topology
#82
World Rank
#93
Historical Rank
#26
USA Rank
math Degrees
Physics
#120
World Rank
#159
Historical Rank
#35
USA Rank
Planetary Science
#16
World Rank
#16
Historical Rank
#11
USA Rank
Astrophysics
#74
World Rank
#79
Historical Rank
#18
USA Rank
Cosmology
#63
World Rank
#66
Historical Rank
#19
USA Rank
physics Degrees
Chemistry
#147
World Rank
#170
Historical Rank
#37
USA Rank
Mathematical Chemistry
#32
World Rank
#32
Historical Rank
#4
USA Rank
Geochemistry
#48
World Rank
#48
Historical Rank
#12
USA Rank
Polymer Chemistry
#96
World Rank
#101
Historical Rank
#20
USA Rank
chemistry Degrees
Philosophy
#124
World Rank
#160
Historical Rank
#39
USA Rank
Continental Philosophy
#15
World Rank
#15
Historical Rank
#6
USA Rank
Mathematical Logic
#56
World Rank
#61
Historical Rank
#16
USA Rank
Eastern Philosophy
#87
World Rank
#87
Historical Rank
#17
USA Rank
philosophy Degrees
Computer Science
#102
World Rank
#102
Historical Rank
#41
USA Rank
Computational Number Theory
#27
World Rank
#27
Historical Rank
#14
USA Rank
Data Mining
#44
World Rank
#44
Historical Rank
#15
USA Rank
Web Development
#33
World Rank
#33
Historical Rank
#16
USA Rank
computer-science Degrees
Education
#134
World Rank
#135
Historical Rank
#41
USA Rank
Pedagogy
#30
World Rank
#32
Historical Rank
#7
USA Rank
Adult Education
#35
World Rank
#35
Historical Rank
#9
USA Rank
Instructional Theory
#12
World Rank
#12
Historical Rank
#12
USA Rank
education Degrees
Biology
#129
World Rank
#157
Historical Rank
#45
USA Rank
Horticulture
#79
World Rank
#80
Historical Rank
#23
USA Rank
Bioinformatics
#85
World Rank
#85
Historical Rank
#28
USA Rank
Molecular Biology
#79
World Rank
#81
Historical Rank
#30
USA Rank
biology Degrees
Criminal Justice
#61
World Rank
#64
Historical Rank
#48
USA Rank
Forensic Science
#40
World Rank
#41
Historical Rank
#16
USA Rank
Criminology
#134
World Rank
#141
Historical Rank
#45
USA Rank
Policing
#232
World Rank
#232
Historical Rank
#77
USA Rank
criminal-justice Degrees
Anthropology
#135
World Rank
#147
Historical Rank
#50
USA Rank
Biological Anthropology
#60
World Rank
#60
Historical Rank
#30
USA Rank
Archeology
#276
World Rank
#289
Historical Rank
#38
USA Rank
Physical Anthropology
#121
World Rank
#123
Historical Rank
#56
USA Rank
anthropology Degrees
Psychology
#90
World Rank
#109
Historical Rank
#53
USA Rank
Legal Psychology
#22
World Rank
#22
Historical Rank
#8
USA Rank
Psychometrics
#61
World Rank
#63
Historical Rank
#35
USA Rank
Social Psychology
#56
World Rank
#58
Historical Rank
#37
USA Rank
psychology Degrees
Business
#134
World Rank
#134
Historical Rank
#55
USA Rank
Supply Chain Management
#81
World Rank
#81
Historical Rank
#26
USA Rank
Logistics
#105
World Rank
#105
Historical Rank
#32
USA Rank
Marketing
#76
World Rank
#76
Historical Rank
#48
USA Rank
business Degrees
History
#156
World Rank
#170
Historical Rank
#59
USA Rank
Medieval Studies
#58
World Rank
#58
Historical Rank
#15
USA Rank
European History
#119
World Rank
#119
Historical Rank
#32
USA Rank
World History
#138
World Rank
#138
Historical Rank
#40
USA Rank
history Degrees
Sociology
#177
World Rank
#189
Historical Rank
#62
USA Rank
Conflict Theory
#14
World Rank
#14
Historical Rank
#5
USA Rank
Community Informatics
#36
World Rank
#36
Historical Rank
#10
USA Rank
Analytical Sociology
#37
World Rank
#37
Historical Rank
#21
USA Rank
sociology Degrees
Medical
#184
World Rank
#191
Historical Rank
#64
USA Rank
Dermatology
#59
World Rank
#60
Historical Rank
#17
USA Rank
Nutrition
#64
World Rank
#64
Historical Rank
#26
USA Rank
Rehabilitation Medicine
#77
World Rank
#77
Historical Rank
#27
USA Rank
medicine Degrees
Social Work
#113
World Rank
#115
Historical Rank
#65
USA Rank
Gerontology
#44
World Rank
#44
Historical Rank
#22
USA Rank
Crisis Intervention
#47
World Rank
#47
Historical Rank
#27
USA Rank
Substance Abuse
#89
World Rank
#89
Historical Rank
#78
USA Rank
social-work Degrees
Communications
#217
World Rank
#234
Historical Rank
#66
USA Rank
Rhetoric
#80
World Rank
#79
Historical Rank
#34
USA Rank
Graphic Design
#139
World Rank
#141
Historical Rank
#48
USA Rank
Grammar
#293
World Rank
#297
Historical Rank
#55
USA Rank
communications Degrees
Economics
#254
World Rank
#274
Historical Rank
#67
USA Rank
Social Choice Theory
#56
World Rank
#56
Historical Rank
#20
USA Rank
Agricultural Economics
#82
World Rank
#82
Historical Rank
#24
USA Rank
Monetary Economics
#69
World Rank
#69
Historical Rank
#24
USA Rank
economics Degrees
Nursing
#143
World Rank
#143
Historical Rank
#69
USA Rank
Psychiatric Nursing
#142
World Rank
#142
Historical Rank
#54
USA Rank
nursing Degrees
Political Science
#258
World Rank
#266
Historical Rank
#75
USA Rank
International Affairs
#143
World Rank
#143
Historical Rank
#49
USA Rank
Public Policy
#127
World Rank
#127
Historical Rank
#63
USA Rank
Government
#256
World Rank
#256
Historical Rank
#64
USA Rank
political-science Degrees
Literature
#208
World Rank
#233
Historical Rank
#79
USA Rank
Philology
#309
World Rank
#236
Historical Rank
#28
USA Rank
Etymology
#220
World Rank
#221
Historical Rank
#48
USA Rank
Literary Theory
#202
World Rank
#206
Historical Rank
#49
USA Rank
literature Degrees
Law
#298
World Rank
#309
Historical Rank
#107
USA Rank
Administrative Law
#240
World Rank
#240
Historical Rank
#61
USA Rank
Tax Law
#314
World Rank
#315
Historical Rank
#104
USA Rank
Jurisprudence
#535
World Rank
#543
Historical Rank
#106
USA Rank
Religious Studies
#473
World Rank
#497
Historical Rank
#109
USA Rank
Jewish Studies
#121
World Rank
#121
Historical Rank
#51
USA Rank
Ministry
#713
World Rank
#713
Historical Rank
#77
USA Rank
Canon Law
#488
World Rank
#488
Historical Rank
#80
USA Rank
religious-studies-hub Degrees

Who Are Pennsylvania State University's Most Influential Alumni?

Pennsylvania State University's most influential alumni include professors and professionals in the fields of Earth Sciences, Criminal Justice, and Computer Science. Here are some of Pennsylvania State University's most famous alumni:

Paul Berg
Paul Berg
An American biochemist, Professor emeritus at Stanford University & Nobel laureate in Chemistry .
Steven Levy
Steven Levy
An American journalist.
Graham Harman
Graham Harman
An American philosopher.
Douglas Comer
An American computer scientist.
Todd May
An American political philosopher.
Benjamin Bloom
Benjamin Bloom
An American psychologist.
Harry J. Anslinger
A 1st Commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics .
Iris Marion Young
Iris Marion Young
An American philosopher .
T. Colin Campbell
T. Colin Campbell
An American biochemist.
John Mashey
An American computer scientist.
Carol Ryff
An American psychologist .
Thomas R. Dye
An American political scientist.

Who Are Pennsylvania State University's Most Influential Faculty?

Pennsylvania State University's most influential faculty include professors in the fields of Earth Sciences, Criminal Justice, and Computer Science. Here are some of Pennsylvania State University's most famous alumni:

Réka Albert
A Hungarian scientist.
Mary Jane Irwin
An American computer scientist.
Martin Bojowald
A German physicist.
Arthur M. Lesk
Arthur M. Lesk
A Molecular biologist.
Priscilla Cohn
Priscilla Cohn
An American philosopher.
Rodolphe Barrangou
A Researcher.
Beth Shapiro
Beth Shapiro
An American biologist.
James Z. Wang
James Z. Wang
An American computer scientist.
Aylin Yener
A Researcher.
Pius Adesanmi
A Nigerian-Canadian professor .
Graeme Sullivan
An American artist.
Michael Kulikowski
An American historian.