Student Life
The University Park campus of Penn State is located in State College, a central Pennsylvania community with a population of nearly 80,000. State College is just a three‑to‑five hour drive from several major cities: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. Residents enjoy a vibrant shopping district and the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, which draws more than 400 artists and crafts people and 100,000 visitors from around the country each summer. The community and University work together throughout the year to present a variety of other cultural events
Penn State provides a wide range of athletic activities for both participants and spectators. The University competes in the Big Ten Conference, which provides a high level of competition in all Inter-collegiate sports. For those who want to participate, the campus has six modern gymnasiums with racquetball and squash courts, several indoor swimming pools, and weight training facilities. Outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, and golf courses are also available.
For outdoor enthusiasts, the surrounding rural area offers many outdoor recreation opportunities, including hiking, camping, skiing, canoeing, kayaking, and trout fishing.
