Dean Eva J. Pell

Welcome! Whether you aspire to conduct cutting-edge research that will contribute to global knowledge or to hold a leadership position in your field with government or industry, we invite you to consider graduate study at Penn State. Graduate education and research are among the University’s foremost missions.

Penn State offers more than 150 graduate degree programs, including 102 doctorate, 111 academic master’s and 69 professional master’s degree programs, and is one of the leading research universities in the United States.

Our graduate programs attract students from diverse cultural and educational backgrounds and from countries all over the world. More than 2,500 graduate students are enrolled from China, India, Korea, Taiwan, Turkey and a host of other countries, and one out of four students is an international student. Our graduate programs also attract significant enrollments by underrepresented, domestic students.

An important component in our success is the quality of our research program. According to National Science Foundation data for 2004, the latest year available, Penn State ranked 9th overall among major U.S. universities in research expenditures. Importantly, this ranking was earned in part by 13 distinct research fields at Penn State being ranked among the top ten of the nation. Our total research expenditures in fiscal year 2005 were $638 million. Included in this total is funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, including the National Institutes of Health, as well as from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Defense, National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Science Foundation.

Nationally, Penn State ranks second in industry-sponsored research, with $85.9 million in expenditures for 2005. In that same year, the University conducted 1,500 research projects with over 800 companies nationwide. These industry contacts provide valuable networks for graduate students seeking nonacademic career opportunities.

With the globalization of knowledge and substantial interest in graduate education growing internationally, this is an excellent time to consider a graduate degree program. At Penn State, domestic and international students are afforded the opportunity to conduct high-quality research and to gain vital experiences that will increase their access to success in the highly competitive U.S. and international employment markets. Explore our programs that interest you and see why we think Penn State should be your first choice for graduate study.