Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton

What is the history of Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton?

Penn State Hazleton began offering Penn State courses in Hazleton in 1934. Its development from a local undergraduate center into a residential campus helps explain its role today: students can pursue selected degrees at Hazleton or begin a degree there and complete it at another Penn State campus.

The campus occupies the Highacres property rather than its original downtown location. As Penn State expanded its network of Commonwealth campuses, Hazleton developed academic buildings, residence halls and student facilities while retaining a relatively small enrollment. Its history is therefore tied to both the Hazleton area and the larger university system.

What are the faculties and departments at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton?

Penn State Hazleton is an academic campus of Pennsylvania State University, not a separate university with its own set of colleges. Its faculty teach courses in areas such as business, information technology, the sciences, humanities and social sciences. The campus offers selected associate and bachelor's degrees, along with introductory coursework for many additional Penn State majors.

A key distinction is whether a student can finish a particular major at Hazleton. Penn State's "2+2" arrangement lets many students complete their first two years at one campus and request a move to another for the remainder of an eligible degree. Campus availability, required courses and entrance-to-major rules differ by program. Applicants interested in a specific field - particularly one with sequenced courses or additional admission requirements - should check the Penn State Undergraduate Bulletin and the current Hazleton program directory before building a four-year plan.

What is the location of Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton?

Penn State Hazleton is in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, on the Highacres campus in northeastern Pennsylvania. It is a distinct Penn State campus, not a neighborhood of the University Park campus.

The setting combines a self-contained campus with access to the surrounding city. That matters for students considering where they will work, shop or complete an internship, as well as for those planning to commute. About two-thirds of students commute, so travel time and the cost of a car or other transportation can be significant parts of an individual budget. Students who expect to change campuses through Penn State's 2+2 arrangement should also account for the cost and logistics of that later move.

What is the mission and vision of Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton?

Penn State Hazleton shares Pennsylvania State University's public, land-grant mission of education, research and service. At Hazleton, that purpose takes the practical form of undergraduate instruction, access to Penn State degree pathways and engagement with the surrounding region.

The university's stated priorities should be understood as its goals, not as evidence that every student has the same experience or outcome. For applicants, the most consequential feature of its academic model is the combination of a smaller campus setting with access to a university-wide curriculum. That model also requires careful planning when a desired major must be completed elsewhere.