Considering a Campus Change

When you accept your offer of admission at Penn State, you are committing to completing two years of your degree at that campus. After those two years, you have the opportunity to remain at your campus of admission, or you may begin to explore completing your degree at another Penn State Commonwealth Campus or World Campus.

If your plans include exploring another Penn State campus, you should take into consideration the personal, academic, social, and financial aspects of your campus change. It is important you also supplement these considerations by having conversations with your support network (family, your academic adviser, etc.) and explore the resources available to you at each campus. Use this webpage to reflect on those considerations and discover your support resources.

Academic Considerations

Majors and Minors

Penn State campuses offer many degrees with very few majors specific to a campus. Therefore, there are many choices when it comes to finishing your Penn State degree. As you reflect on your major and minor goals, consider the following:  

  1. How many Penn State credits do you have remaining at your current campus? If you have less than 45 credits to complete, you may want to consider staying at your current campus.
  2. Reflect on your current academic major. Do you plan to continue in that program? How will minors or certificates supplement your major? The Penn State Career Services Center , Find Your Fit tool, and the Undergraduate Bulletin can help you determine if your current campus meets your academic goals or if another campus may be a better fit.

The Classroom Experience

After you explore your academic program and campuses, it’s important to reflect on the environment in which you learn best. This will help you determine which Penn State campus will be the best fit for you. Think about the classes you are currently enrolled in and reflect on the following questions:

  1. What do you like about the size of your current classes? What would you change? (To explore student-to-faculty ratios for each Penn State campus, view the homepage of each Penn State campus website here.)
  2. How would a change in campus size and climate impact your Penn State experience? (Reflect on campus size, class size, and campus location. How do you typically get from class to class and would a larger or smaller campus be manageable?)
  3. What academic support resources do you currently use? (To learn more about academic support resources at all Penn State campuses, use MyResouce and explore the Penn State Learning Centers.)
  4. What academic opportunities (e.g. research, internships) are you involved in or interested in pursuing? (To learn more about research opportunities at all Penn State campuses, view the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Database. To view information about internship opportunities, explore the Penn State campus websites for Career Services.)  

A thought if you’re considering University Park

It is valuable to consider the environment you best learn in if you are exploring a change to another Commonwealth Campus, but also to University Park. If your plans include University Park, consider the following:

  • The largest lecture hall at University Park seats about 700 students. While all          your classes won’t be that big, it is very common to have classes with 50-100 students. Some upper-division courses or discussion-style courses have fewer than 50 students.
  • While you may have a professor at University Park, you will likely have a teaching assistant (TA) as well. The role of the TA is to help facilitate discussion, grading, and assistance in larger classes. You may have classes where you see the TA more frequently than the professor.
  • It can take upwards of 20 minutes or more to walk from one end of University          Park to the other end.

How do these considerations compare to your current experience reflection? Being aware of your ideal learning environment will help you in your change-of-campus exploration.

Social Considerations

As you consider the academic considerations of your campus change, it is just as important to reflect on the social aspects of your Penn State experience thus far. Reflect on the following social consideration questions:

  1. Are you currently involved in clubs and organizations you hope to continue at another Penn State campus? (With more than 1,000 clubs and organizations across Penn State, there are so many opportunities to stay involved or try something new. To view campus clubs and organizations, explore Discover Penn State.)
  2. What clubs and organizations are you currently involved in that you would like to continue at another Penn State campus? Are there any clubs and organizations you would be interested in joining?
  3. Are you a student-athlete? (If your transition plan includes moving to another Penn State Commonwealth Campus, explore the PSUAC FAQ page here. f your transition plan includes moving to a Penn State Commonwealth Campus, ensure your new campus offers your sport. In either scenario, discuss your plans with your current athletic contact to ensure your eligibility.
  4. Do you use support services outside of academics? (e.g. counseling, mentoring, etc. To explore support services at all Penn State campuses, view campus websites and use MyResource.)

Personal Considerations

Personal considerations include things such as preferred housing, transportation, and personal obligations you may currently have. As you think about the personal considerations in your campus change, reflect on the following questions:

  1. When thinking about your new campus, what is your ideal living situation? (This includes on-campus housing, off-campus housing, or commuting from home if possible. Click on the links for each housing type to learn more information.) 

Note that if your plans are to live off-campus, you should not sign a lease until your campus change is approved. A lease is a legally-binding document. For more information on understanding a lease, knowing your rights, and off-campus housing options at the University Park campus, click the off-campus housing link above.

  1. If you are willing to commute from home or live off-campus, do you have a reliable form of transportation? (To learn more about parking options at the Commonwealth Campuses as well as additional transportation information, click on your preferred campus on the transportation website. If your transition plan includes University Park, view transportation options here.)
  2. As you think about your new Penn State campus, how far from home would you prefer to be?
  3. What personal obligations or responsibilities do you currently have that could be impacted by your move (e.g. family responsibilities, a job, etc.)
  4. How would your relationships change with family and friends if you were to move closer or further away?

Financial Considerations

Did you know that at any Penn State campus, there is an increase in tuition when a student reaches 59.1 credits?This often occurs in the fifth semester when students choose to make a campus change. It is important to keep this in mind, in combination with differences in tuition, when making a campus change. Reflect on the following financial consideration questions:

  1. Do you know the tuition difference between your current Penn State campus and the campus you are looking to transition to? (To learn more about tuition and costs, please use the Tuition and Cost Estimator tool.)
  2. Are you aware of the financial aid that you are currently receiving that may not transfer to your new campus? (Some awards on your current financial aid offer may not transfer to your new campus. This is especially true if your plan includes University Park (e.g. Discover Award does not transfer to University Park). Please schedule a meeting with Student Aid to learn more about how your financial aid may be impacted by your campus change.)
  3. Are you planning to work a job as you continue your studies? (Explore on-campus job opportunities through the Penn State HR website.)
  4. What additional costs have you considered when it comes to your campus change? (Books, supplies, rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, etc.) 
  5. Overall, how would your financial situation be impacted by your campus change? (It is important to have conversations about your campus change with those who may support you financially. To schedule a 1:1 meeting with a financial coach or view helpful webinars, explore the Sokolov-Miller Family Financial and Life Skills Center).  

Housing Opportunities: On-Campus or Off-Campus?

Housing is another factor in the change-of-campus process. As you explore a new campus as an option, consider the following:

  • Would you want to live on-campus or off-campus?
  • Does the campus you’re considering offer on-campus housing? Not all Penn State campuses have residence halls.
  • If you’re considering living off-campus, ask yourself the following:
    • What type of housing do I prefer – apartment, townhome, house, etc.?
    • Will I live alone or have roommates?
    • Am I considering additional expenses of living off campus (a security deposit, groceries, additional utilities, etc.)?
    • What are my means of transportation?
    • Is it feasible for me to sign a lease for the rental term? (Note that leases are legally binding and are often for 12-month terms; you should not sign a lease until your campus change is approved)
  • If at your current campus you are a residential student, you should enter the housing process at both your current and intended campuses. Depending on what happens with your campus change request, you’ll only be obligated to the contract at the campus which you enroll.

The following resources can help you decide if on- or off-campus housing is right for you:

Family and Personal Obligations

Besides being a student, you may also have additional roles in your family dynamic to consider if you were to change campuses. Reflect on the following:

  • What responsibilities or obligations do I have that are keeping me close to home?
  • How would changing my campus impact those closest to me?
  • What plan do I have in place to stay connected with my personal support network once I change campuses?

Penn State Transition Plan Form

Additional information coming soon!

The Importance of your Academic Adviser

While you will be assigned a new academic adviser at your new Penn State campus, it is important you have conversations with your current academic adviser about your campus change plans. Additionally, they can help answer any questions you may have, direct you to additional support resources, and can confirm if you are meeting change-of-campus requirements.

Please use Starfish to schedule a meeting with your academic adviser.

Join us for Penn State Pathways!

Through on-campus visits, presentations, webinar offerings and opportunities to discuss your Penn State transition plan with a member of Student Orientation and Transition Programs, we are dedicated to supporting you complete your Penn State degree! Click here for more information about Penn State Pathways and when we are visiting a campus near you!