UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State remains one of the largest public universities in the United States with 87,995 students enrolled across the University’s campuses in fall 2024, according to the annual enrollment snapshot released today (Nov. 11). The University welcomed its second-largest-ever incoming class at University Park this fall with 9,169 first-year students, contributing to an overall enrollment increase of 0.8% (365 students) at the campus since fall 2023. 

Advancing land-grant and access missions with stable enrollment of Pennsylvania residents, growth in several mission-based populations 

Roughly 58% of the overall student population is comprised of in-state students, totaling 50,766 students, in line with previous years’ trends and representative of the University’s commitment to educating Pennsylvanians through its land-grant mission.  

The University also saw an increase in the overall number of first-generation students (487 students, or 2.7%), totaling 18,389 or 25.1% of the undergraduate population, in addition to growth in overall enrollment of underrepresented minority students (516 students, or 3.8%). Many first-generation students begin their Penn State education at a Commonwealth Campus, with 38.6% of incoming first-year undergraduate students across those campuses being the first in their family to pursue a degree in higher education. 

“Demand for Penn State continues to be strong among students and families from Pennsylvania and beyond due to the depth and breadth of academic program offerings, powerful sense of community, and unrivaled employer and alumni networks that provide a competitive advantage to Penn State graduates in the job market,” said Matt Melvin, vice president for enrollment management. “As the enrollment landscape continues to change, we remain committed to providing students with curricular and co-curricular opportunities and experiences at scale that other institutions simply cannot replicate that are valuable, and are valued, by employers and in post-baccalaureate education. We are also committed to maintaining a diverse student body, which contributes to and enhances the overall Penn State experience for all students as they prepare to be productive members of a diverse society.” 

Commonwealth Campus snapshot 

Across all 20 Penn State Commonwealth Campuses combined, there was a small decline in resident instruction enrollment (a decrease of 471 students, or –2%) with individual campuses experiencing a range of enrollment trends, including slight increases at some locations and marked decreases at others. The University has been developing strategies to address long-term decreases in enrollment at the Commonwealth Campuses, which has declined in aggregate by about 24% over the last 10 years.  

“Our Commonwealth Campuses continue to deliver a quality Penn State education to students across the state. Many individual campuses are doing well, some have unique challenges we are working to address, and others have been experiencing steady enrollment declines,” said Margo DelliCarpini, vice president for Commonwealth Campuses and executive chancellor. “We are seeing that overall enrollment declines have lessened at our Commonwealth Campuses over the past two years compared to the significant overall drops that have taken place over the last decade; however, they are largely driven by growth or steadying enrollment at a handful of campuses. We will need to determine the right path forward for our unique Commonwealth Campus model to continue making an impact for Pennsylvania residents.” 

National enrollment landscape 

Across the country, first-year undergraduate enrollment is down 5% compared to fall 2023, with public institutions seeing the largest decline of 8.5%, according to a National Student Clearinghouse Research Center report released Oct. 23. This follows last year’s problematic Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) rollout, which was accompanied by an 8.8% drop in the number of U.S. high school seniors who completed federal financial aid applications. However, the decline at Penn State is smaller than the national trend, with a University-wide 2.7% decrease in overall first-time, full-time undergraduate students (427 students).  

The Commonwealth Campuses saw a decline (-8.4% or 578 students) in first-year undergraduate enrollment. While it’s not possible to quantify the effect, DelliCarpini said last year’s FAFSA delays likely impacted Commonwealth Campuses, which traditionally enroll higher numbers of aid-eligible students. 

The National Student Clearinghouse Resource Center also reports first-year enrollment has declined nationwide among students of all races and ethnicities. The incoming class of first-time, full-time undergraduate resident students at Penn State is less diverse, with 280 fewer students (-9.8%) who self-identify as a member of at least one underrepresented minority group enrolled this fall compared to last. The most significant declines are among out-of-state underrepresented minority students with low to no financial aid need. This reverses a trend that had seen modest annual increases in the diversity of the incoming class in recent years and follows the July 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling to end race-conscious admissions programs at institutions of higher education. 

As noted above, the overall population of underrepresented minority students — defined by federal rules as those who self-identify as Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian/Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander — increased by 3.8% (516 students) across all campuses, despite declines in the incoming class. This overall growth is largely driven by slight increases in first-year underrepresented minority classes in recent years and intentional efforts to increase retention and graduation rates, according to Melvin. Over the last decade, graduation rates have been stable, with small increases among both the underrepresented minority undergraduate and overall undergraduate populations.  

“We remain steadfast in our commitment to attracting and serving mission-based populations and recruiting and graduating a diverse student body, in line with our core educational mission while following the ruling of the court. We all benefit when we work and learn with individuals whose backgrounds, identities and perspectives differ from our own,” Melvin said. “We also continue to enhance programs to help students from all backgrounds to thrive after they arrive at Penn State, intended to improve progression and retention rates and to continue closing graduation rate gaps over time, across backgrounds and identities, in line with President Bendapudi’s goals.” 

Other fall 2024 enrollment trends include: 

• Steady overall enrollment among all undergraduates (an increase of 144 students, or 0.2%). 

• Increased overall enrollment in Penn State World Campus (an increase of 210 students, or 1.5%).  

• College of Medicine student enrollment increased by 10, with 970 current students. 

• Penn State Dickinson Law’s enrollment increased by 13, with 333 current students.  

• Penn State Law’s enrollment decreased by 28, with 571 current students. 

• International student enrollment saw a slight decline of 285 students (-2.9%). 

• Overall graduate student enrollment remained steady at 13,038, compared to 13,091 in 2023.  

• International graduate enrollment at the University remained steady (0.1% increase), compared to a nationwide decrease of 4.6% according to National Student Clearinghouse Research Center data. Undergraduate international enrollment at Penn State dropped by 5.5%, consistent with national trends.  

• Over the past 10 years, four- and six-year graduation rates have steadily increased overall. Four-year graduation rates have risen by 11.2%, from 48.7% in 2010 to 59.9% in 2020, including increases at University Park and the Commonwealth Campuses and among Pell Grant recipients. For the same time period, six-year graduation rates have risen by 6.3%, from 68.4% in 2010 to 74.7% for the 2018 cohort, with increases at University Park, Commonwealth Campuses and World Campus — and among underrepresented minority students, first-generation students and Pell Grant recipients. 

• Strengthened one-year retention rates across the University, including at Commonwealth Campuses (a 1.3% increase) and among the underrepresented minority student population (a 1.9% increase). 

More fall 2024 enrollment figures can be found on the Penn State Data Digest website.