Hi I’m a junior in high school looking for colleges to apply to. Here in Michigan, the University of Michigan has two colleges that borrow from its name (U of M - Dearborn and U of M - Flint) but they are completely different. They have MUCH lower academic requirements to get in, different applications, different recruiters coming to our schools, and no college rankings website would ever dare to put them in the top 10 in the state. They accept pretty much anyone and are among the cheapest 4-year colleges in the state. Basically, the only thing those two colleges have in common with U of M is the Block M and the blue and maize color scheme.
However, from the research I have done I have figured that Penn State and their campuses are not like this as they are a part of one large network I guess you could say. Is this conclusion correct? If so, then how do these campuses differ from going to State College? Are academic requirements the same? Do you go through a different application process for each campus? Is graduating from one of the satellite campus viewed as less prestigious than from SC? Do the majors offered at campuses differ? Differences in cost? Are scholarship opportunities much worse? Basically any insight anyone can give will be helpful. Thank you so much.
You mostly don’t graduate from the branch campuses. Many students spend two years there and two years at University Park (UP – the official name of the campus in State College). Acceptance requirements are lower, as are fees. Same application. You can even denote that University Park is your first choice and some other campus is your backup, if you are rejected at UP.
You go through the same entry-to-major requirements as anyone else, because often you’ll be moving to UP junior year, when you start really taking major classes. Some majors are only offered at one or more of the larger branch campuses (Erie has a few that are specific to that campus), in which case you would stay there all four years.
The branch campuses are sometimes the only affordable option for PA students because they are spread out over the state and often there is one in commutable distance. If you are a very low income student and get federal and state aid usually the tuition of about $13k can then be paid for with FA and student loan.
Some students do a 2 yr degree program at the local branch, some offer a few bachelor’s degree programs, but like bodangles said for most degrees they have to finish up at UP.
There are often not as many resources and the branches accept lower stats students as well, whereas UP requires higher stats.
@bodangles So, if you go to a satellite campus for the first 2 years (if the major is offered at the satellites of course), not only would it be cheaper and easier to get into, but you will end up with the same Penn State degree in end anyway? Seems like its the best way to go. So then, why doesn’t everyone go this route? What are the perks of going to State College exclusively for all 4 years? Is it just for that PSU experience?
Students with stats far above the branches’ averages may not want to go there for two years (I was UP or bust, myself). See http://admissions.psu.edu/apply/statistics/ for Class of 2018 averages. UP SAT 25th - 75th percentile: 1750-2000. All other campuses SAT 25th - 75th percentile: 1460-1690. Also I’m in Schreyer, and UP has the biggest population of Schreyer students.
Or maybe State College is closer, or they want the big school experience (the branches are smaller), or as mommdc said, better resources and more things going on. If you move to UP and graduate from there you do indeed get the same degree as someone who went there all four years. And it’s not like anyone cares, once you get here, if you came from a branch or whatever.
Well the tuition is pretty close for instate students at branch versus UP, but the added cost comes from staying on campus versus commuting to branch and living at home.
But students that can afford it want to get away from home, and have that college experience on campus.
@bodangles @mommdc Okay thank you both. I understand it all so much better. We Are…
http://admissions.psu.edu/costs-aid/tuition/
http://tuition.psu.edu/tuitiondynamic/rates.aspx?location=aa_bk_bd_cl
For OOS students tuition at Erie is $21,000 and UP $30,000, room and board would depend on apartment costs in the area, branches don’t always have student housing.
Our local branch does have a lot of endowed scholarships that students in certain majors can qualify for. Often they are need based and for academic merit as well. I’m not sure if they are only available to local students.
But local branches can be an important stepping stone for these students, especially in rural PA.