Frequently Asked Questions

For the most up-to-date information about alternative grading, visit the alternative grading page.

There are many resources available to help students enrolled in remote courses. You can also access more general student support resources that are being offered in flexible ways at this time. Talk with your adviser regarding specific academic concerns you may have.

Undergraduate students must use the appeal process to petition for a retroactive late drop through the Faculty Senate. As soon as you determine you cannot participate in the course, you should work with your academic adviser to ensure that all parts of your petition are complete prior to submission. Note that you should not submit your petition to the Faculty Senate Office directly; a petition can only be submitted through your college or campus. The Faculty Senate Office has additional details on submitting a petition.

Graduate students’ requests for a retroactive late drop must be submitted by the graduate program to the student’s Records Coordinator in the Office of Graduate Enrollment Services. The graduate program should provide a detailed explanation describing the extenuating circumstances, why the course in question could not be dropped by the published late-drop deadline, and why the course cannot be completed as planned and indicate its support for the request.

For both undergraduate and graduate students receiving financial aid, having incomplete (DF, NG, LD) or failing grades (F) on their transcript at the end of the semester may negatively impact their federal and state aid satisfactory academic progress review, which typically occurs annually at the end of spring semester. This annual review determines a student’s eligibility for aid for future semesters. However, students who are on financial aid probation for fall 2020 should consult with an Office of Student Aid adviser to discuss how a fall 2020 incomplete or failing grade may impact their spring 2021 financial aid eligibility.

Watch for email notifications about progress reports, and be sure to set up a meeting with your instructor and/or adviser to address concerns with your academic progress and make a plan to get back on track. You can check your course syllabus for your instructor’s preferred contact information. Many students will be able to make an appointment with their adviser directly through Starfish. If your adviser does not have scheduling enabled in Starfish, you can contact your adviser or advising office directly to set up an appointment.

Access to academic advisers will be maintained throughout the fall semester. Please check Starfish to schedule an appointment with your academic adviser or contact your academic adviser via email to learn more about how they will conduct advising appointments.

Your academic adviser will have tips and strategies for communicating with your course instructors. If you have already tried to resolve the issue through communication with your instructor and are still experiencing problems, you may contact the department head, school director, or director of academic affairs of the unit offering the course. You can also complete our Academic Concern form to get your issues addressed.

Your instructors will let you know how best to contact them, how quickly you can expect to hear back from them on correspondence, and when and where they will be holding office hours, whether in-person or virtual. This information will be on your course syllabus, but if you are unsure, please ask until you have the information you need. Penn State Learning resources may also be provided at the department or college level, and every campus has a learning center.

You are expected to attend all scheduled classes for each of your courses, regardless of instructional mode. In the event of occasional and/or temporary absence, students will follow the attendance policy of the University with some flexibility. If students must quarantine or isolate, courses delivered face-to-face will include elements of remote delivery to allow them to continue to engage in class.

Students must continue to meet the academic requirements set by the college or major.

According to University Policy, students must get express permission from their instructor to record class sessions. Screenshots showing instructors and students are considered recordings. Even if permission is granted, student-initiated recordings must be used only for educational purposes for the students enrolled in the initiating student’s class. Recordings may be used only during the period in which the student is enrolled in the class. Authorized student-initiated recordings may not be posted or shared in any fashion outside of the class, including online through social media or other digital channels, without the express written consent of the course instructor or appropriate University administrator. Students who engage in the unauthorized distribution of class recordings may be held in violation of the University’s Code of Conduct, and/or liable under Federal and State laws.

All students are expected to behave respectfully in classes, no matter the format or delivery mode. Read the latest information about expectations for students on the Student Affairs website.

Individual units and departments will develop approaches to laboratory instruction that account for physical distancing protocol. In some instances, labs may be offered remotely. Other labs will be offered in person.

Yes, there are places on campus for this purpose. In addition to the normal student spaces that have had seating adjusted to account for physical distancing, dozens of smaller classrooms have been identified on the University Park campus as Remote Learning Rooms. These rooms are open for use during normal building hours and have clear signage indicating that they are intended for accessing remote classes. The rooms do not have computers available for student use, so you will need to bring your own technology. Please wear headphones so you do not distract others. If you are talking as part of class participation, be aware of your speaking volume and consider using headphones with a microphone. You can find details by selecting the Remote Learning Rooms layer on the campus map or on the Penn State Go app. Clicking on the Remote Learning icon (headphones) will provide detailed information for each building.

Undergraduate and graduate students are permitted to continue working in labs if they are in town. Students may not request to remain in an on-campus residence hall solely for the purpose of working in a lab. Undergraduate students, graduate students, external visitors, and visiting scholars must receive prior approval from the relevant academic dean for them to continue on-campus research. Those who are already approved to work on campus do not need to be re-approved. All students and visitors must adhere to the standard operating procedures of the lab and be part of the person-count for square footage, scheduling, and any other relevant considerations. Instructors cannot and should not require undergraduate or graduate students to come to campus, and undergraduate and graduate students who conduct on-campus research must be included in the research reductions and approaches to de-densification.

All courses, including graduate courses, will move to an online instructional format after November 20, 2020.

Graduate and undergraduate students currently undertaking research in person are permitted to continue doing research in labs after the Thanksgiving holiday in accordance with the guidance from the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research. Learn more about the requirements for continuing to conduct research as an graduate or undergraduate student.

Graduate students at Penn State Law, Dickinson Law, or the College of Medicine have additional guidance. Penn State Law classes at University Park will continue in their hybrid format through Tuesday, November 24, 2020, the last day of Penn State Law classes. Dickinson Law classes will continue in their hybrid format through November 24, 2020, and classes will be held in a fully remote format from Monday, November 30, through Friday, December 4, 2020. At the College of Medicine, all pre-clinical courses for MD and PA students, and all graduate studies courses, will move to an online instructional format after Friday, November 20, 2020. Medical and physician assistant students in clinical rotations and clerkships will continue their patient-care activities in hospital and office settings following the Thanksgiving holiday. They must adhere to all hospital policies for the use of PPE, hand hygiene, and physical distancing in patient-care settings.

If the course is being offered as remote synchronous instruction, then you have a scheduled meeting day and time. If the course is offered as remote asynchronous instruction, then course materials and assignments are made available for you to work through on your own schedule, keeping in mind that there will be due dates for assignments and there may be common times for quizzes and exams.

Learn more about the technology you will need for any remote course on the Technology Resources page.

You should first speak with your course instructor. If you cannot resolve your schedule, you can complete our Academic Concern form.

We will use discussion boards and online engagement tools to ensure you can continue working with peers and faculty. Tools like Canvas, Zoom, Office 365 (including Teams), and Kaltura will allow you to collaborate, discuss course work, and complete assignments. Your instructor will provide you with additional information.

You should plan to participate in the mode of delivery for the courses you are registered for throughout the entire semester. For example, students who are registered for an in-person course should plan to attend the course in person until November 20th. If you face unforeseen circumstances, you should work with your instructors to determine alternative course delivery options. If the University would need to switch all courses to remote learning, students will be informed immediately.

Some lectures may be recorded. Please check with the instructor teaching the course.

Most computer labs are open with adjusted schedules and limited seating. Students should verify lab hours and availability by consulting the student computing lab webpage.

In accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and public health guidelines, wearing face masks and adhering to physical distancing practices, including maintaining six feet of physical distance between people, are critical components in helping to maintain the health and safety of the entire campus community. Students, employees, and visitors are required to practice physical distancing and wear face masks/coverings when inside campus buildings, including in classrooms, labs, offices, and other public spaces, and the University is expecting that individuals also will wear a mask when outdoors on campus and in the community.

To aid in this effort, the University purchased 500,000 masks to be distributed across all campuses for people who need them. In addition, distance markers, directional arrows, signs, and other visual cues will be installed in high-traffic areas, classrooms, common areas, study spaces, and other shared locations, which also will be reconfigured with physical distancing principles in mind. Tables, chairs, and lounge furniture will be rearranged and/or blocked for use in some locations, and posting of maximum occupancy and do-not-congregate signs for most areas will become the norm, in accordance with the governor’s higher education guidance.

To help create a safer learning, living, and working environment for all students, faculty, and staff, new classroom policies will be in effect this fall across Penn State’s campuses in alignment with public health recommendations and Gov. Tom Wolf’s requirements for higher education institutions. Specific policy guidance is expected to be posted soon to the Office of Student Conduct website.

To reduce the risk of widespread virus transmission, wearing face masks and physical distancing will be required for all students and employees in classrooms, labs, offices, and campus buildings. Students and employees also should practice physical distancing, avoid large gatherings, and wear face masks while on campus, as well as within their local communities in line with local and state requirements.

If you fail to meet masking and physical distancing guidelines in a way that puts others at risk, you may be referred to the Office of Student Conduct and required to participate in the University’s conduct process. Employee violations of these requirements should be directed to the appropriate academic department and/or Office of Human Resources.

The Penn State Student Affairs website provides comprehensive information about COVID-19 including what to do if you feel sick, contact tracing, and quarantine/isolation.

If you are quarantined, you may be able to attend class remotely. Your instructor will provide guidance on remote attendance or how absences will be handled if remote attendance is not available. Once you know you need to be quarantined, you should contact your instructors and your academic adviser.

Effective immediately, all students are strongly encouraged to complete a daily symptom checker to self-screen for potential COVID-19 symptoms before returning to campus. Students can access the COVID-19 symptom checker in the Penn State Go mobile app. Download Penn State Go from Google Play Store and Apple App Store. 

New users will be prompted to select their Penn State Go Experience when they start using the app. You can select from University Park, World Campus, or individual Commonwealth Campus Experiences in the app to view the Coronavirus Resources section for access to the daily COVID-19 symptom checker. 

Users who had previously downloaded Penn State Go will need to update the app to view the Coronavirus Resources section for access to the daily COVID-19 Symptom Checker. 

For more information, visit the Penn State Go website and learn about its features.

No. All students must wear masks; wearing a clear face shield does not satisfy the requirement.

Students can locate information about which software they can access from international locations in the International Restrictions of Penn State Software and Technology Services (PDF). 

If you are unable to use the software of your choice, please consult the document to see if there is a Penn State provided alternative. You may also try to connect through a Penn State–provided VPN. However, international governments can change access to the software at any time. 

Wellness days, which will be in place across all campuses, will be non-instructional days during which no classes will be held, although University offices will remain open.

Wellness days will take place on February 9, March 11, and April 7 at University Park, including Penn State Law, and the Commonwealth Campuses. All wellness-day activities on February 9 will be remote.

Dickinson School of Law has designated February 15, March 10, March 30, and April 16 as Wellness Days.

The College of Medicine has designated March 29, April 16, and May 7 as Wellness Days for medical students and February 15, March 11, March 24, April 6, and April 16 as Wellness Days for physician assistant program students.

Visit the Wellness Days website for more information about Wellness Days, including programming and events.

Everyone’s lives have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, and it is normal that you are experiencing stress, uncertainty, and disruption during this time. Penn State Health Promotion and Wellness has provided a variety of resources to give you positive coping strategies, including a guide to maintain your health and wellness (PDF) during COVID-19. It is also a good idea to stay connected with others, whether that’s with family and friends or through campus-related activities.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) provides resources including You@PSU, a wellness portal that provides personalized resources. CAPS also hosts virtual Life Hacks sessions twice daily for all Penn State students. These are free, drop-in gatherings focused on improving quality of life.

University Libraries are open with limited hours. You can also access remote resources.

Student Disability Resources engages in an interactive process with each student and reviews requests for accommodations on an individualized, case-by-case basis. Please contact the disability services office on your campus. Services are consistent, but hours and implementation may vary. 

You can find a wide range of accessibility resources offered by Accessibility and Usability at Penn State. All questions about the accessibility of materials and technology used in courses can be sent to accessibility@psu.edu.

If you are finding it difficult to cope or are feeling overwhelmed, we encourage you to reach out to your campus resources:

• University Park students can call Counseling and Psychological Services at 814-863-0395 to make an appointment and speak with a clinician. CAPS is currently offering clinical consultations and short-term tele-mental health therapy.
• Students at other Penn State campuses should contact their campus counseling staff.
• Penn State World Campus students should contact their Mental Health Case Manager.

If you are experiencing high distress or are in crisis and are located in the United States, please call the Penn State Crisis Line at 1-877-229-6400 or call 911. You may also receive immediate support from the Crisis Text Line by texting ‘LIONS’ to 741741. Contact local emergency services if you are outside the United States.

If you are located in Pennsylvania, you can also access the COVID-19 Support & Referral Helpline.

Starting in January, Xfinity’s 1.2 Terabyte (1,229 GB) Internet Data Usage Plan will be included with Xfinity Internet.

With 1.2 terabytes of data in a month, you can video conference for 3,500 hours, watch 1,200 hours of distance learning videos, stream 500 hours of high-definition video content a month, or play more than 34,000 hours of online games. For more information including specifics on overage rates and charging timelines, read the FAQs on the Xfinity website. A typical class that meets 150 minutes per week would use approximately 5 GB of data per month if using video and audio. Use of Zoom audio only uses approximately 0.5 GB per month.

For questions about technology specific to course work, such as CADD, MATLAB, and other specialized software or hardware, contact your course instructor first. If you need general assistance with IT services, you can reach the IT Service Desk for 24/7 technology support through live chat or by emailing ITservicedesk@psu.edu or calling 814-865-HELP (4357).

Our preference is for you to attend Virtual Orientation so that you can learn about the courses offered at your campus and make an informed choice. If you feel that you need an earlier consultation, you can contact the admissions office at your campus.

No. You will need to register for courses offered online at the University, but you do not need to notify anyone that you are doing online only courses. You should work with your academic adviser to make sure you register for courses that allow you to make progress toward your degree. If you have an on-campus Housing and Food Service (HFS) contract and plan to live at home, please contact the Commonwealth Campus Housing and Food Service Office (814-865-7862) or the University Park Housing Assignment Office (814-865-7501) to discuss the process.

Some majors or affiliations may require you to study on campus to make full progress toward your degree, (e.g. programs with laboratories or studios, specialized programs where courses are offered at specific campuses, etc.). These programs include but are not limited to: allied health programs offered at the Commonwealth Campuses (such as Occupational Therapy Assistant, Biomedical Engineering Technology, Radiological Sciences, and Physical Therapist Assistant) and some performance-based or design-studio programs. Other students who may not be able to start or continue at home may include ROTC recruits, student athletes, or other groups.

At a Commonwealth Campus or World Campus, the Registrar Office can assist you. At University Park, you should contact the department offering the course.

Course controls are set by departments and can be viewed in LionPATH course descriptions. Course controls exist to assist with the specific demand of courses to ensure the students (from that campus) can make degree progress. Course controls should be reviewed before you decide to request a temporary change of campus. You may be able to schedule a controlled course.

A revised student aid package should be available within 5–7 business days of when your temporary change of campus is updated in LionPATH. This will include updated costs and any reprocessed aid. Costs and aid may continue to change if courses are subsequently dropped or added.

If you have received a scholarship from a campus, college, or other awarding unit, please contact that awarding entity to discuss the ability to keep the award when transitioning to a new campus. You can verify the source of your awarding unit by accessing your LionPATH Financial Aid Award and clicking on the blue “i” button next to the award.  

Some scholarships/endowments have very specific stipulations that make the award incapable of “traveling” with you to another campus. You may also want to discuss whether the scholarship can be reinstated to you when you return to your original campus. 

Unfortunately, an equivalent alternative funding package is not always possible, given the relative lack of available scholarship funding. 

It is very important that you discuss changes in your costs or aid options with your college or campus representative or the Office of Student Aid. If you are unsure who to speak with regarding your costs and aid, please contact the Office of Student Aid by phone at 814-865-6301, or by email.

You can retain scholarships while attending remotely as long as you retain your original campus designation.

Scholarship availability to part time enrollees is contingent upon the awarding unit’s discretion. Please contact that awarding entity to discuss the ability to keep the award if you are less than full time. Some scholarships also require a minimum of 24 credits to be completed in a year in order to be renewed (if applicable) for the following year. 

Other grants, such as the Federal Pell Grant and the Pennsylvania State Grant, will be reduced if you attend less than full time. 

Please contact the Office of Student Aid to discuss the impact on your aid if you plan to attend less than full time.   

The Office of Student Aid can be contacted by phone at 814-865-6301 or by email. You may also contact the student aid office at your assigned campus.

Any federal aid of grants, loans, or work study can move to any campus, including World Campus. 

If you have a Pennsylvania State Grant, it is portable to any campus, including World Campus, but the value of the award may be recalculated by PHEAA based on that campus’ tuition costs.

Depending on the value of the PLUS or private loan already awarded, if you move to a lower-cost campus, the loan may be reduced to compensate for the lower tuition rate. If you are planning on applying for a PLUS or private loan, please process your temporary change of campus first so the loan value can be accurately calculated based on any updated costs. Students should consult with the Office of Student Aid for individual assessment, if needed. The Office of Student Aid can be contacted by phone at 814-865-6301, or by email.

Students who received a Federal Work Study award have the opportunity to obtain a job and perform related duties either on campus or remotely, if possible and at the discretion of the employer. Students applying for Federal Work Study positions should clarify expectations with their potential employer regarding either on campus/in person or remote work arrangements.  A Federal Work Study award does not guarantee a job position is available. Current federal guidance does not permit students in the 2020–21 academic year to be paid for hours not worked, even if the hours are not worked due to COVID-19.

Students with GI Bill-related questions who may be interested in changing their campus should contact the Penn State Office of Veteran Programs at veteran@psu.edu or 814-863-0465, or the veterans representative at your campus.

Costs and financial aid are large considerations as you decide if temporarily changing your campus or learning at home to complete courses for the fall semester is right for you. It is imperative that students first consult with their academic adviser to determine if a temporary change of campus will ensure access to courses needed for timely degree completion. After that discussion, students should consult with student aid at their assigned campus to determine what aid is portable or transferable to their temporary campus, and how their tuition, housing or meal costs may change. Students with scholarships whose original campus is University Park are also encouraged to consult with their scholarship’s awarding agent to determine if the award is transferable to another campus.

Students who are scheduled for all remote learning classes and plan to live at home (at their permanent address) may request a cancellation of the spring semester HFS Contract. Students are not able to cancel the HFS Contract to live off campus. The deadline to submit a cancellation request is Friday, December 11. You can read additional information on the Penn State Housing site.

Living on or off campus is a personal decision, based on the social aspect of living on campus and the financial implications involved. Living on campus will provide a great experience for students to transition to college, but there are will be changes to the usual living environment.

Students who do not have an accepted spring HFS Contract may add their name to the “On-Campus Housing Waitlist” that is available in eLiving. If it’s determined that space is available, HFS Contract offers will be made in December.

Yes, students will get their housing deposit refunded under these circumstances. This process occurs in the fall with the bursar, so they will not see that refund until after the start of the semester.

Students will be paying the student-initiated fee for the campus at which they enroll. Paying this fee allows for participation in co-curricular opportunities and attendance at events at their campus of enrollment. Fee-paying students will also be eligible to attend many virtual events at other campuses. Information about those opportunities will become available as the semester progresses. Because World Campus students do not pay a student fee, there may be limitations regarding their participation in on-campus events.

Students will receive student services from the campus at which they are enrolled. Students should visit campus web sites to learn about what services are offered at particular campuses.

Students will receive student services from the campus at which they are enrolled for the semester. Students should visit campus web sites to learn about what services are offered at particular campuses.

Students who change their campus to World Campus will have access to all co-curricular programs and academic and student support services offered by World Campus. You can read information about those services. Students from other campuses are welcome to attend most World Campus co-curricular programs.

World Campus students are eligible to use the resources offered through that campus. If you are located near a Penn State campus or have an existing relationship with services from your original campus of enrollment, accommodations may be made to grant access to non-World Campus services.

For the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, Penn State University Libraries is licensing more e-books, and its course reserves materials will be available to students mostly online. Penn State instructors are encouraged to request course reserves as soon as possible, and libraries personnel are available to help instructors identify electronic resources for their courses. Learn more about course reserves.

Academic units across Penn State are committed to providing additional flexibility to accommodate the unique demands of spring 2021. To the extent permitted by external accreditation requirements, which only affect some majors, credits earned at any campus in spring 2021 for courses required by your major can count toward major requirements, including the 24-credit residency requirement. Because there are some exceptions, all students considering taking courses other than at their home campus should consult with their adviser.

When a student is approved for a temporary change of campus, the approval is for the requested semester, and the campus assignment will automatically be changed back for the following semester. A student who would like to continue at the temporary campus for the next semester would need to submit another temporary change of campus request through LionPATH.

Some courses at Penn State campuses have course controls to allow only students from specific degree programs to have access to required courses. You may enroll in any available course where you meet the course controls and prerequisites.

You will retain your current academic adviser at your original assigned campus. Additionally, we will connect you with an academic adviser at your temporary campus.

A temporary change of campus request is not automatically approved. Your assigned campus will first review the temporary change of campus request, including the appropriateness of your planned courses (i.e., do courses help you make forward degree progress?). If appropriate, the request will be forwarded to the temporary campus for final review. The requested campus will determine if they offer the courses requested and whether there is appropriate capacity. This process should take two to three business days if the process is followed efficiently.

You will receive an email notification of the decision sent to your Penn State email account.

You can, but you will want to ensure that you will have access to courses that will still support your ability to make forward degree progress. You can make this request for a temporary change back to your original assigned campus by submitting the request at your LionPATH Student Center. To find this area in LionPATH, select “Degree Planning & Process” and then “Update Campus.” You can view a tutorial about updating your campus.

No. If the majority of a student’s courses are through World Campus, they will be charged World Campus tuition. However, if you register for more than one course at another campus through multi-campus registration process and the number of credits taken at that campus are greater than World Campus courses, you will be administratively changed to that campus and your tuition will be adjusted accordingly. The multi-campus registration policy permits a student to enroll in courses offered at a campus that is not their assigned campus, but there is an important restriction to consider. Students are not eligible to enroll in a course that is offered at a different campus until one week prior to the start of the semester (this fall, that’s August 17). We expect course offerings to be limited by that time and encourage students to work with their academic adviser to make a plan and a backup plan in the event that a course they want to schedule at another campus is full.

If you have further questions regarding your tuition, please email fall2020tuition@psu.edu.

In this case, the student would be charged the standard UP tuition rate where in-state and out-of-state tuition rates will apply. The multi-campus registration policy permits a student to enroll in courses offered at a campus that is not their assigned campus, but there is an important restriction to consider. Students are not eligible to enroll in a course that is offered at a different campus until one week prior to the start of the semester (this fall, that’s August 17). We expect course offerings to be limited by that time and encourage students to work with their academic adviser to make a plan and a backup plan in the event that a course they want to schedule at another campus is full.

Note: If the multi-campus registration process results in the majority of your credits being offered through a different campus, a temporary change of campus will be administratively processed, and the new campus’ tuition rates will apply.

If you have further questions regarding your tuition, please email fall2020tuition@psu.edu.

Yes, but keep in mind to consult with your academic adviser to ensure there are course offerings available that will allow you to continue to make progress toward your degree.

Under a multi-campus registration, students are only eligible to enroll in courses offered at a different campus one week prior to the start of the semester. Course offerings are likely to be very limited by that time and we encourage you to work with your academic adviser early if you consider this option.

If you decide to try to do this after consulting with your adviser, you will want to file for a temporary change of campus as early as possible within LionPATH to ensure you have access to the most course offerings the campus you would be changing to offers. Remember, seats fill up as the registration cycle continues.

Tuition will ultimately be charged at the rate of the campus you have temporarily changed to unless you have more credits at another campus through multi-campus registration for which you will be administratively changed to that campus and charged that campus’ tuition rate.

If you have further questions regarding your tuition, please email spring2021tuition@psu.edu.

Penn State will be offering the same flexible instructional modes used for the spring 2021 semester at all Penn State campuses. As a result, Penn State’s multi-campus structure will provide many options to optimize a student’s academic course schedule and tuition cost to suit their needs. While Penn State does provide many options, there is not unlimited availability at each campus, so plan and act early.

Ultimately, your tuition will be determined by which campus you are enrolled at. Use the Tuition Calculator for a detailed estimate of costs at the various Penn State campuses. In-state and out-of-state tuition rates still apply.

If you have further questions regarding your tuition, please email spring2021tuition@psu.edu.

Yes, international undergraduate students will continue to be charged this fee as Penn State will continue to provide a comprehensive academic and student support services that are unique to international students. The international student fee supports a wide range of activities and programs that assist international students regardless of where the student is located. These activities include compliance support, Penn State First programming, student engagement support, specific international student activities, and programs still accessible remotely.

If you have further questions regarding your tuition, please email spring2021tuition@psu.edu.

No, you do not have to pay the insurance fee if you are remaining in your home country while studying during the spring semester. Penn State does request a copy of your passport and your travel history (from U.S. Border Patrol). These documents will provide the evidence of your location. You can send online copies of these to UHS-insurance@psu.edu.

If you have further questions regarding your tuition, please email spring2021tuition@psu.edu.

The difference in resident and out-of-state tuition is the result of funding from Pennsylvania taxpayers that is provided to Penn State through an annual appropriation. In addition, Penn State’s partnership with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania dates back to our founding in 1855, and that partnership was solidified when Penn State was named Pennsylvania’s sole land-grant university. Like all other public universities, we are mandated to offer lower tuition to resident students of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

If you have further questions regarding your tuition, please email spring2021tuition@psu.edu.

The University is currently offering four modes of instruction. In the event the University returns to an all-remote instruction environment, no portion of the tuition and fees will be refunded. You can read further information on the four flexible instruction modes that Penn State currently is offering.

If you have further questions regarding your tuition, please email spring2021tuition@psu.edu.

Tuition for remote courses while retaining a student’s original campus will stay the same. Students who select remote learning environments through one of our residential Penn State campuses will be able to choose from the largest selection of remote synchronous and remote asynchronous course options covering many academic disciplines and programs. They also will have access to the remote co-curricular programming that is offered at the campus where they are enrolled.

If you have further questions regarding your tuition, please email spring2021tuition@psu.edu.

No. Having said that, we understand the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to all of us. Due to this, and because of the economic hardships facing Pennsylvania and the nation, Penn State has frozen in-state and out-of-state tuition rates University-wide for the 2020–21 academic year. This marks the third consecutive year that Penn State has held tuition rates flat for Pennsylvania resident students.

Penn State continues to offer many educational options for students across the Commonwealth (multiple campuses) and across academic disciplines within a varied cost structure (Tuition Calculator). Consistent with past course offerings and established tuition rates, and with a focus on the health and safety of our students and their families, the University is reminding students of this flexibility. Please consult with your academic adviser to ensure that if you decide to temporarily change campus to another Penn State campus that the courses you need for your degree are available at that location.

If you have further questions regarding your tuition, please email spring2021tuition@psu.edu.

It depends on which campus you temporarily change to. If you temporarily change your campus to a campus with a lower tuition rate, then there will be tuition cost savings. In-state and out-of-state tuition rates still apply. Use the Tuition Calculator for a detailed estimate of costs at the various Penn State campuses.

In addition, if you choose to remain at home for spring 2021 and engage in remote learning options, you will save approximately $6,000 in room and meal costs.

Before deciding to temporarily change your campus for the spring 2021 semester, the University recommends you to consult with your academic adviser to ensure that course offerings at the campus you are considering will allow you to continue to make academic progress towards your degree.

If you have further questions regarding your tuition, please email spring2021tuition@psu.edu.

No. However, if you temporarily change to World Campus and subsequently register for a campus-based course (through the multi-campus registration process), you will be charged that campus’ activity fee.

If you have further questions regarding your tuition, please email spring2021tuition@psu.edu.

If you are registered at a physical campus in the spring, even if you are attending remotely, you will pay the activity fee that is associated with that campus. All Penn State campuses will continue to offer and give you virtual access to student services and activities even if you are studying remotely.

If you have further questions regarding your tuition, please email spring2021tuition@psu.edu.

The tuition and activity fee you will be charged depends on the campus at which you enroll, and the standard in-state and out-of-state rates will apply accordingly.

Students who select remote learning environments through one of our residential Penn State campuses will be able to choose from the largest selection of remote synchronous and remote asynchronous course options covering many academic disciplines and programs. They also will have access to the remote co-curricular programming that is offered at the campus where they are enrolled. If you have further questions regarding your tuition, please email spring2021tuition@psu.edu.

In this case, the student would be charged the Commonwealth Campus tuition rate associated with their campus. The multi-campus registration policy permits a student to enroll in courses offered at a campus that is not their assigned campus, but there is an important restriction to consider. Students are not eligible to enroll in a course that is offered at a different campus until one week prior to the start of the semester (this fall, that’s August 17). We expect course offerings to be limited by that time and encourage students to work with their academic adviser to make a plan and a backup plan in the event that a course they want to schedule at another campus is full.

Note: If the multi-campus registration process results in the majority of your courses being offered through a different campus, a temporary change of campus will be administratively processed, and the new campus’ tuition rates will apply.

If you have further questions regarding your tuition, please email fall2020tuition@psu.edu.

University Health Services (UHS) now offers telemedicine, in addition to in-person visits, to provide safe and convenient health care to Penn State students, even when they are not on campus. All in-state students may access care through telemedicine. Depending on state regulations, students living out of state may also be eligible for telemedicine appointments. Telemedicine appointments are easily accessed through a mobile device or computer. During these appointments, UHS providers will diagnose conditions, suggest follow-up care, and can even prescribe medications. Though not all medical concerns are appropriate for telemedicine, a wide array of health concerns can be evaluated through a telemedicine visit.  

The Penn State student health insurance plan (SHIP) works at all campuses and world-wide. The SHIP is available to all registered students enrolled at least ½ time and is a requirement for international students taking 1 credit or more, excluding World Campus students. Please see the Student Health Insurance website for further details. You will want to verify the health services available to you at your specific campus. The Penn State SHIP has telemedicine and tele-behavioral health services available to your through Healthiest You at no additional cost. You can find the phone number on your United Healthcare Student Resources medical ID card.

Please call the appointment line at 814-863-0774.

Please call 814-865-7467 or email uhs-insurance@psu.edu.

The Penn State SHIP will continue to cover intramural and club sports injuries. Intercollegiate sports are not covered under the Penn State SHIP.

SHIP is not available to World Campus students.

If you do not have insurance as a U.S. citizen or as a permanent resident, you may reach out to the Student Insurance Advocate for consultation by phone at 814-865-7467 or by email at insuranceadvocate@psu.edu. The Student Insurance Advocate provides individual student consultation as well as outreach and education to students and student groups around health insurance. The student insurance advocate will assist students in identifying insurance options, including the Penn State Student Health Insurance Plan, Medicaid, or Affordable Care Act marketplace plans.

Yes, new students are still required to submit the necessary immunization records to the University, even if you decide on the Start at Home option or attend Penn State World Campus. You can read more information about the required immunizations for first-year students.