Tuition

Tuition is assessed based on a student's resident or non-resident status, campus location, level (associate, lower, upper, or graduate), major (in some cases), and credit load. For undergraduate students, tuition is charged per credit up to 12 credits. Students taking 12 – 19 credits will be charged a flat tuition rate. Undergraduate students taking more than 19 credits will be charged the flat tuition rate plus the regular per credit hour rate for each credit above 19. College of Medicine medical students will be assessed the full-time flat rate for any semester that exceeds 8 credits.

The Board of Trustees approves the tuition rates and mandatory fees for the academic year.

Tuition and fees rates apply regardless of the instructional mode (that is, whether in-person or otherwise) and will not be refunded in the event the instructional mode changes during the Academic Year.

The following criteria are used to determine the amount of tuition a Penn State student is assessed per semester:

• Campus

• College

• Major

• Semester Classification

• Residency

• Credit load

• Tuition Surcharge

Semester Classification is determined by the following number of credits earned:

• First Year: 29 or fever credits earned

• Sophomore: 29.1 to 59 credits earned

• Junior: 50.1 to 89 credits earned

• Senior: 89.1 or more credits earned

When calculating tuition, a student's semester classification for a future semester is determined by adding total credits to the credits currently enrolled. Once an undergraduate student completes 59.1 or more total credits (which include credits earned through advanced placement or transferred from another institution), the student is considered to have obtained Junior/Senior status at Penn State.

Important: All advanced placement or transfer credits placed on the Penn State transcript will count towards the total number of credits a student has accumulated, even if some of those credits do not meet the course requirements for graduation.  Please be advised that a student’s tuition will increase when the Penn State transcript reflects 59.1 total credits. If the credits you are transferring or have transferred place you above 59.1 credits after the start of the semester, your tuition will increase immediately. You will see the additional tuition on your student account in the first week of the following month.

Official tuition rates and mandatory fees are approved by the Board of Trustees.

Please note: Tuition and fee rates apply regardless of instructional format (in‑person or otherwise) and will not be refunded if the instructional mode changes during the academic year.

The official tuition rates are published on the tuition.psu.edu website.

Tuition Schedules