<p>U.S news ranks Penn State (University Park) as being 45 in the nation. Now does that include all 19 campuses or is that only the main one? The Penn State campus in my area is where many students go if they did not do well in H.S or had poor SATs. Many people actually consider it to be a community college in many ways. I don't think the campus shows up on your diploma but does it really matter what campus you go to? Is it all just Penn State?</p>
<p>The National ranking of #45 applies to University Park.</p>
<p>Columbia09, while the ranking is just for UPark, which ever campus you go to just says “Penn State University” and it doesn’t matter.</p>
<p>If you decide to stay at a satellite campus for 4 years, your diploma will look just like it will from University Park. Or so they tell me.</p>
<p>I guess that an employer savvy enough to know the difference could ask an applicant whether they attended a satellite campus or not. Do employers ask for transcripts these days…thinking that transcript might indicate whether student attended PSU main or branch? Not sure if students at branch campuses get to participate in on main campus employer recruiting events, so the job opportunities may not be as great. </p>
<p>Are you considering attending a branch for all 4 years rather than doing the 2+2 plan?</p>
<p>Employers definitely ask for transcripts (especially for that first job - and often after that). I would assume the transcript would indicate the branch campus, even if the diploma just said PSU.</p>
<p>So if its all the same thing, why go to U-Park and spend more money? I know that the branch campuses are cheaper and are less rigorous in terms of course work. I mean if its all the same why go to U - Park? I’m in the 2 + 2 program but I believe my major requires me to finish at U-Park anyway.</p>
<p>No one said the educational or college experience would be the same. Just that the piece of paper you get at the end of your 4 years would be the same.</p>
<p>Not all the diplomas are the same… Yes, it will say Penn State, but your diploma could say ‘College of Engineering’ or perhaps ‘Behrend College’ on it- depending upon your specific program. The ‘College of Engineering’ is controlled by University Park and other campuses which offer competing degrees don’t get the ‘College of Engineering’ diploma per say. The satellite campus might be joined with a larger campus like Behrend to offer the competing degree. However, degree programs like electro-mechanical engineering technology are part of the ‘College of Engineering’ from Main campus since main campus does not specifically offer that degree- they are allowed to graduate from that program as part of that specific college.</p>
<p>@Columbia09</p>
<p>Social life is a lot better at UP than any other campus plus better facilities.</p>