Large Four-Year Universities in Pennsylvania
West Chester 911³Ô¹ÏÍø of Pennsylvania, Slippery Rock 911³Ô¹ÏÍø of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is firmly entrenched in the northeastern United States and enjoys a varied climate throughout. Though western regions can often receive large amounts of snowfall, by and large the state is known to be somewhat humid and to experience copious amounts of rainfall every year. The sixth most populous state in the nation, Pennsylvania is overflowing with history dating back to the birth of the country and beyond. After all, the founding fathers chose to sign the Declaration of Independence right there in Philadelphia. Many famous historical figures in American history have called Pennsylvania home, including Benjamin Franklin. Pennsylvania promises a bright future to those who decide to enroll in one of their many world-class universities, with the excellent Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education system making up a good portion of those schools.
With a student body of over 12,000 full-time students, it offers a wide variety of majors to choose from. There are Bachelor’s of Arts degrees available in American studies, biology, English, psychology, German, political science, and philosophy, just to name a few. There are also numerous choices for Bachelor’s of Science degrees, Education degrees, Nursing degrees, and various certifications. The Institute for Women represents the interest of women on campus and schedules a number of activities to enhance their self-esteem and career prospects. The Frederick Douglass Society is composed of African-American faculty that raise scholarship money not only for African-American students, but for all the students in general.
Sometimes referred to as The Rock, this school lays claim to being one of the largest schools in western Pennsylvania in terms of total area. Just 50 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh, it not only offers a wide array of degrees to choose from, it also features excellent on-campus housing. Students have the option of staying in the fairly new apartment style residence hall complex. They also have access to a large and fairly new multi-million dollar recreational facility. Above all, the school prides itself on being a friendly and caring university.
Located just 55 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, it is the largest university in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Having over 14,000 students enrolled, it offers an astounding array of undergraduate degree programs to choose from. Often ranked highly by various publications including U.S. News and Consumer’s Digest, the university boasts an extensive music library, black box theater, and a planetarium. It is constantly undergoing construction and students can expect to have access to several new dormitories. The Student Cooperative Association owns College Lodge several miles from campus that gives students access to skiing, biking, hiking, and much more.
Sometimes referred to as Ship, it is located 40 miles west-southwest of Harrisburg in Shippensburg. It is often ranked highly among universities in the North according to various reputable publications and is often cited as being one of the best values among all public colleges. Over 52 undergraduate programs of study are offered amongst the various schools within the university as well as 8 pre-professional programs such as pre-vet and pre-med. Its Ezra Lehman Memorial Library boasts access to over 2 million items and has recently been renovated with new work stations and computers.
With its humble beginnings dating way back to 1852, it became part of the State System of Higher Education in 1983. It is a fairly rural campus that has recently experienced an explosion in construction thanks to the massive state and private grants it has received. Not only are there 6 new residents halls for students to choose from, they can also opt to live in apartment style housing just a short bus ride from campus. The main hub of student activity is the Elmo Student Center, which features 4 separate dining areas and is host to the student radio stations, TV station and book store.
Located in Pittsburgh and often referred to simply as Pitt, it is widely considered one of the best public research universities in the nation. In addition to consistently making top 20 rankings in various publications, it also is considered to be one of the best values out there. It is home to the tallest educational building in the Western Hemisphere in the Cathedral of Learning, which stands over 500 feet tall. One of the oldest continuously chartered universities in the nation, it has over 28,000 students enrolled. It also is host to competitive NCAA Division I sports programs that consistently rank in the top 20 nationwide.
Often referred to simply as Penn State, it is one of the largest public universities in the nation with over 84,000 students enrolled across its 24 campuses. With over 160 majors available to choose from, it has campuses located throughout the entirety of Pennsylvania. The largest campus, 911³Ô¹ÏÍø Park, is located near the geographical center of the state and is the most selective of the campuses, with an acceptance rate of around 50%. 911³Ô¹ÏÍø Park consistently ranks in the top 15 for public universities on a national level and is considered to be a Public Ivy because of its outstanding academics and prestige. Penn State is also competitive when it comes to athletics, competing in the NCAA Division I-A for most sports.
Additional topics
- Top Two-Year Colleges throughout Pennsylvania - HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College: Offering Multiple Paths to Success
- Large Four-Year Universities in Michigan - Central Michigan 911³Ô¹ÏÍø, Eastern Michigan 911³Ô¹ÏÍø, Michigan State 911³Ô¹ÏÍø, Northern Michigan 911³Ô¹ÏÍø