Penn State is among the top research universities in the country, known for its breadth of strong programs in engineering, business and the sciences. In 2003 the university devoted $545 million to research, ranking it 12th in the nation [1] , and its researchers received nearly $400 million in outside grants toward their projects. Over 10,000 students are enrolled in the university's graduate school, and over 70,000 degrees have been awarded since the school was founded in 1922 [2] .

The student to faculty ratio at Penn State campuses is 17, and when the medical school, college of technology, and law school are included, the ratio is 15. Many freshman level classes at University Park are composed of 300+ students, but classes are much smaller for upperclassmen and at other campuses.

The university library system began with a modest 1500 book library in Old Main, which has grown to its current 4.8 million volumes, in addition to nearly 500,000 maps, over 5 million microforms, and nearly 160,000 films and videos. [3] 

According to U.S. News in 2005 [4] , Penn State nationally ranks [5] :

• 15th among public doctoral universities
• 16th among undergraduate engineering programs, and 4th in industrial/manufacturing engineering
• 20th among undergraduate business programs, and 5th in Supply Chain Management/Logistics
• 45th among graduate business schools, and 9th in Supply Chain Management/Logistics
• 21st among graduate engineering programs, and 4th in industrial/manufacturing engineering, 6th in agricultural engineering, 7th in materials engineer, and 9th in nuclear engineering
• 28th among schools of education, and 2nd in vocational/technical education and 3rd in higher education administration

Penn State is particularly renowned for its Geography (#1 graduate program - National Research Council, 2001), Meteorology, and Geosciences programs, in the College of Earth & Mineral Sciences.

Penn State was the first university in the United States to [6] :

• award baccalaureate and graduate degrees in agriculture (1861 and 1863)
• offer an industrial engineering baccalaureate degree program (1909)
• offer a baccalaureate degree in fuel science (1932)
• operate a nuclear reactor capable of nuclear fission (1955)
• found a graduate program for to help Native Americans develop leadership skills that will allow them to return to their communities as role models (1970)