Penn State's tuition & fees has increased from $31,346 (2015) to $41,790 (2025), and the rate of tuition increase is 33.32% over the past 10 years. The graduate school tuition & fees has raised from $34,084 (year 2015) to $45,574 (year 2025).
Penn State's tuition increase rate is higher than the Pennsylvania's average increase rate of 19.54%. Compare to all colleges in United States, it's increase rate is higher than the average increase rate of 10.99%.
The total cost of attendance (COA), including tuition & fees, books & supplies costs, and living costs, increased by 27.78% from 2015 ($48,900).
For the current academic year 2024-2025, Penn State's COA is $62,484, which is increased by 4.41% from last year.
The following table and chart show changes to Penn State's COA over the past 10 years.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | Change by Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | In-State | Out-of-State | ||
| 2015-16 | $35,068 | $48,900 | $35,068 | $48,900 | - |
| 2016-17 | $35,758 | $50,240 | $35,758 | $50,240 | 2.74% |
| 2017-18 | $36,344 | $51,572 | $36,344 | $51,572 | 2.65% |
| 2018-19 | $36,652 | $53,056 | $36,652 | $53,056 | 2.88% |
| 2019-20 | $36,962 | $54,026 | $36,962 | $54,026 | 1.83% |
| 2020-21 | $37,396 | $54,460 | $37,396 | $54,460 | 0.80% |
| 2021-22 | $38,270 | $55,848 | $38,270 | $55,848 | 2.55% |
| 2022-23 | $39,447 | $58,263 | $39,447 | $58,263 | 4.32% |
| 2023-24 | $39,892 | $59,846 | $40,310 | $60,264 | 2.72% |
| 2024-25 | $41,338 | $62,484 | $42,138 | $63,284 | 4.41% |
The tuition & fees have increased 33.32% for the last 10 years , and the 2025 tuition & fees are $41,212. The following table and chart show the tuition & fees changes at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus over last the 10 years.
| Year | Undergraduate | Graduate | Change By Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | In-State | Out-of-State | ||
| 2015-16 | $17,514 | $31,346 | $20,270 | $34,084 | - |
| 2016-17 | $17,900 | $32,382 | $20,912 | $35,214 | 3.31% |
| 2017-18 | $18,436 | $33,664 | $21,752 | $36,606 | 3.96% |
| 2018-19 | $18,454 | $34,858 | $22,578 | $38,012 | 3.55% |
| 2019-20 | $18,450 | $35,514 | $22,994 | $38,728 | 1.88% |
| 2020-21 | $18,450 | $35,514 | $23,498 | $39,232 | |
| 2021-22 | $18,898 | $36,476 | $23,719 | $39,778 | 2.71% |
| 2022-23 | $19,835 | $38,651 | $25,015 | $42,151 | 5.96% |
| 2023-24 | $20,234 | $40,188 | $25,518 | $43,828 | 3.98% |
| 2024-25 | $20,644 | $41,790 | $26,034 | $45,574 | 3.99% |
The cost of purchasing books & supplies which are required/recommended for courses $1,200, and it has decreased -34.78% from the year 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Books & Supplies | Change by Year |
|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | $1,840 | - |
| 2016-17 | $1,840 | |
| 2017-18 | $1,840 | |
| 2018-19 | $1,840 | |
| 2019-20 | $1,840 | |
| 2020-21 | $1,840 | |
| 2021-22 | $1,840 | |
| 2022-23 | $1,840 | |
| 2023-24 | $1,840 | |
| 2024-25 | $1,200 | -34.78% |
The living costs including room, board, and other living expenses have increased 22.25% when a student lives on-campus facilities and 27.27% when living-off campus from the year 2015 to 2025. The following table shows the changes in living costs at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | Change by Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | $15,714 | $15,714 | - |
| 2016-17 | $16,018 | $16,018 | 1.93% |
| 2017-18 | $16,068 | $16,068 | 0.31% |
| 2018-19 | $16,358 | $16,358 | 1.80% |
| 2019-20 | $16,672 | $16,672 | 1.92% |
| 2020-21 | $17,106 | $17,106 | 2.60% |
| 2021-22 | $17,532 | $17,532 | 2.49% |
| 2022-23 | $17,772 | $17,772 | 1.37% |
| 2023-24 | $17,818 | $18,236 | 0.26% |
| 2024-25 | $19,494 | $20,294 | 9.41% |
The following table compares 2025 tuition and increase rate from last year between Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus and similar schools.
| 2025 | 2024 | Increase Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | $41,790 ($20,644) | $40,188 ($20,234) | 3.99% |
| The Pennsylvania State University | $25,574 ($15,890) | $25,574 ($15,890) | - |
| University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | $41,430 ($21,926) | $39,890 ($21,524) | 3.86% |
| Temple University | $38,805 ($23,005) | $37,248 ($21,991) | 4.18% |
| West Chester University of Pennsylvania | $22,599 ($10,775) | $22,511 ($10,686) | 0.39% |
| Pennsylvania State University-World Campus | $15,356 ($15,356) | $15,204 ($15,204) | 1.00% |
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