Is Penn State an average university, good university or an excellent university?

Question

I'm interested in a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.

Answer 1

First of all, I'm assuming that you are not planning to attend the University Park campus, because the criminal justice degree is not offered at University Park. The criminal justice degree is offered at a few of the commonwealth campuses (along with "administration of justice"), while the "crime, law, and justice" degree is offered at University Park.

That said, many of the previous replies are moot, having referred to University Park and the State College, PA area.

As a whole, the Penn State University System is one of the best in the world at serving its target audience, being the residents of the commonwealth of PA. Their World Campus programs pioneered online education. While the University of California system is the most highly regarded set of public (i.e. state) institutions of higher education, their organizational structure is very different from that of Penn State's. The fact that Penn State is a member of the Big Ten conference provides you with some comparisons--the Big Ten academic standards don't allow for "average universities" to become members.

If you do plan on attending University Park, then you can see infer from the previous postings and from my response that it is important to be precise with your language. Penn State is huge, both as a singular campus at University Park, and as a statewide system, and your question can produce lots of confusing responses if you are not careful with the words that you choose.

In the end, I have to tell you some cold hard facts. Your undergraduate degree will only provide good things to you based on the amount of effort that you put into your work. The prestige of the college or university matters only a very small amount. Consider the fish size/pond size proportion... are you one who wants to be a big fish in a small pond, or do you want to be one of many small fishes in the big pond? Regardless, you can be either size fish at any institution.

Good luck with your college applications and admissions.

Answer 2

I'm from Central Pennsylvania, about 30 minutes from Penn State and it is an excellent university. Small town feel but Big 10 School! Excellent reputation. I travel quite a bit for my job and even when I am overseas, everyone has heard of Penn State!

Answer 3

I disagree with earlier poster -- PSU is generally considered pretty excellent for education majors. It has a national reputation as such. Overall the University is considered to be a very good public (not private) institution of higher learning. And the partying is fairly good too.

EDIT: Don't confuse U Penn (Ivy League) with Penn State, earlier poster.

Answer 4

Pennsylvania State University is an excellent University.

Answer 5

Excellent.

Answer 6

Penn State is an excellent university. I didnt do the research but my sister did and she was considering them. She also gradutated at the top of her high school class.

Answer 7

It's good, not like princeton or something, but a well-respected university. However, it is HUGE! State College is a neat city. I live about a half an hour south of it, and I go there sometimes. My dad graduted from PSU, but he only did a two year degree.

Answer 8

some people will say average, some say good, o thers will say excellent. It is an EXCELLENT school for agriculture. I have referred friends of mine that wanted to major in agriculture there and they call/email/write and tell me how awesome it is! Being that I am from Pennsylvania, I am biased! But it gets really cold up there in the winter time!

Answer 9

Excellent - I had a friend that graduated from there and she loved everything about the place! I woudn't pass up the opportunity to go there if I could!

Answer 10

i'd say excellent, my 2nd cousin got accepted first year main campus - which is like a HUGE deal. theres all thuis hype around penn state, so theyre has to be something there. its def. a great place to go.