Penn State University, also known as Penn State World Campus, is part of the Pennsylvania State University, a land-grant public research university. Penn State has 24 campuses across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, including the online World Campus, in University Park just outside of State College.
The university offers over 160 graduate degree programs, including doctorates and both academic and professional master’s degrees. Their goal is to foster teaching, research, and public service with local and global reach.
Penn State World Campus opened in 1998, but the campus and its programs are grounded in over 150 years of teaching, research, and service. Penn State Online offers certificate programs, undergraduate degree programs, and graduate degree programs, including master’s and doctoral programs.
Students enjoy technology-enhanced learning experiences, career-focused curriculum, and a supportive network of faculty, students, and staff. As a Penn State student, you’ll become part of a nationally-recognized university with global impact — whether you choose to study on campus or online.
Penn State is a pioneer in distance education, having offered early versions of distance learning as far back as 1892! Online degree programs through Penn State World Campus are centered on best practices in online delivery, taught by faculty who understand how to teach in an online format, and designed to support optimal learning outcomes as well as convenience.
Penn State World Campus offers degree and certificate programs designed to help you pursue enhanced career goals. Choose from 150 programs in education, business, engineering, technology, health care, and more. Each program features a career-focused curriculum that includes the latest industry trends, plus courses taught by faculty members who are experts in their fields.
Penn State Online offers a variety of degree programs that can be pursued at your own pace. Asynchronous courses mean you don't have to log into your classes at a specific time.
Students complete weekly assignments, readings, discussions, and other activities at times that are most convenient to them. And, a combination of self-study and peer-to-peer interaction makes online learning both flexible and rewarding.
Students pursuing their graduate degrees online still need the support of dedicated faculty and staff. Pennsylvania State University online students have access to the same services on-campus students enjoy, like new student orientation, academic advising, career counseling resources, a nationally recognized research library, and technical support.
Penn State World Campus is approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the GI Bill, and the Yellow Ribbon Program. In addition to having a dedicated Office of Veterans Programs, Penn State has a Academic Military Support Team staffed by professionals who promote academic success and achievement for military students.
And, the flexible online degree programs offered by Penn State may be perfect for the lifestyles of military members and their families.
Whether they learn online or on campus, Penn State students join a diverse and extensive community of learners from around the country and the world. Graduates are also part of a worldwide network of more than 673,000 alumni.
In fact, Penn State has the largest dues-paying alumni association in the world, with more than 174,000 members. Become a Penn-Stater, and join the family!
The Pennsylvania State University fosters research and scholarship that promotes human and economic development, global understanding, and advancement in professional practice.
The university, including the World Campus, upholds President Eric Barron’s Six Imperatives:
To apply to Penn State World Campus, check the requirements for your prospective degree or certificate program, and submit an online application. Depending on their situation, some students may have additional considerations when applying.
Transfer Students—Transfer of graduate credit is determined on a case-by-case basis by the program you are applying to. Among other considerations, potential transfer courses must appear on a graduate-level transcript from a regionally accredited institution, you must have earned at least a B in each course, and the credits must not have been used toward the completion of a previous graduate degree.
International Students—Among other requirements, international graduate students must submit scores for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). Some graduate-level programs, like the Penn State online MBA, may require travel to the United States to fulfill certain degree requirements.
Military Students—Penn State World Campus is committed to helping military members, veterans, and their families navigate admissions procedures, such as transferring credits, applying for financial aid, and more. Contact an admissions counselor for assistance.
Full- and half-time degree-seeking students at Penn State World Campus are eligible to apply for federal student aid. To find out if you qualify, you must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The Pennsylvania State University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Individual programs may have additional accreditations.
Penn State World Campus offers 150 accredited degree programs in fields that include business, education, nursing, engineering, technology and sciences, homeland security, and other career-focused areas. Penn State online graduate programs include master’s, doctoral, and graduate certificate programs.
The online, AACSB–accredited MBA program at Penn State World Campus offers flexibility, choice, and a curriculum designed to help you pursue new heights in business. Study business strategies, collaborative teamwork, strategic leadership, and other key professional functions while learning at a pace that suits your busy life. The 48-credit program features 39 core credits and 9 credits within your concentration.
An Interdisciplinary Curriculum: Penn State’s online MBA is designed to integrate multiple business disciplines and concepts. You could study everything from economics and financial management to global business and corporate innovation, plus work on projects that simulate a real-world business environment.
Career-focused Concentrations: Customize your program by choosing a nine-credit concentration, like accounting foundations, business analytics, finance, marketing analytics, or general management, among others.
Five-Day Residency: Held in University Park, Pennsylvania, the required residency gives you a chance to meet instructors and peers, attend a team performance class for credit, enjoy keynote speakers, and more.
Career Support: Online MBA candidates have access to the same expert career advisers and educational support resources as on-campus students
Browse our directory of online graduate degree programs offered by Penn State World Campus. Click to learn more about programs that interest you, and don’t forget to request more information from Pennsylvania State University Online.
Sponsored Programs
Learn to design, implement, and apply data management techniques with Penn State's 30-credit online Master of Professional Studies in Data Analytics degree. more >
The new online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) is essentially identical to our resident instruction program. more >
Systems engineering is a holistic approach to managing complex engineering projects that was first developed in the aerospace industry and the military, and has been adopted by professionals in more >
Supply chain management's core processes - planning, sourcing, making, delivering, and returning - are critical across industry sectors, from manufacturing to retailing to business services. more >
Penn State's online 33-credit interdisciplinary master of engineering management curriculum provides engineers with business and management perspectives as well as problem-solving skills. more >
The Penn State Master of Applied Statistics (MAS) delivered online through Penn State World Campus is designed for professionals who handle data in their current positions, and are interested more >
Earn your Penn State master's degree in electrical engineering — 100% online
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Gain knowledge and skills to support students with special needs
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The MPS in the Psychology of Leadership at Work is designed for working professionals who seek advanced education in leadership to enhance their careers, support organizational goals and objectives more >
Penn State’s Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Nutritional Sciences is an online professional master’s degree is designed for registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) who are int more >
Take your career to the next level. Increasingly complex business methods, growing sophistication in auditing approaches, new tax laws, and demand for highly technical services require th more >
Learn how to make informed, data-driven business decisions with Penn State's 30-credit online Master of Professional Studies in Data Analytics with an option in Business Analytics. more >
The 30-credit Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Applied Demography delivered through Penn State World Campus is designed to provide working professionals with an understandin more >
Earning Penn State's online Certificate in Fundraising Leadership can help you gain an important advantage in the areas of development and fundraising, whether you are new to the field or al more >
Enterprise Architecture (EA), once considered simply a means of linking IT strategy and execution in an organization, has evolved to become a mechanism for aligning the entire enterprise& more >
The Penn State World Campus online project management program is designed to meet the needs of companies that are heavily engaged in large-scale projects. more >
The health care system of the future must focus on greater efficiency and quality through improved technology, organization, and management. more >
Computing technology touches every segment of society, driving change and innovation in industries like banking, manufacturing, medicine, aerospace, defense, and much more. more >
Quality educational leadership is vital to the overall success of an individual school or school system. more >
As businesses and organizations collectively tighten their belts, employers are adding more stringent hiring requirements for new employees, and corporations are placing a stronger emphasis on trai more >
Penn State's online Master of Professional Studies in Organization Development and Change (MPS–OD&C) can provide you with the background you need to effectively manage and lead change more >
The Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum and Instruction is a 30-credit degree program offered by Penn State's College of Education and delivered online through Penn State World Campus, re more >
As the Internet and related technologies continue to evolve, businesses and school boards across the nation are turning to technology to more effectively engage learners; improve performance; and i more >
The Master of Education in Higher Education is a 30-credit professional degree program designed to prepare students and professionals for the field of postsecondary education. more >
Penn State’s Master of Finance degree delivered online through Penn State World Campus gives you a well-rounded understanding of finance by covering practical business applications that you c more >