Penn State World Campus is the online campus of Pennsylvania State University, a public university in Pennsylvania. Launched in 1998, World Campus grew out of the university's history in distance education that began in 1892. It offers more than 200 online undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs in partnership with Penn State academic units.[1] World Campus offices and a major part of its technical infrastructure are located at Innovation Park on the University Park Campus.
Penn State World Campus is the real Penn State. Students will take courses with a curriculum developed and taught by the same professors who teach on campus. Students can expect the same caliber of academic quality associated with Penn State. Every student – regardless of their campus – receives a diploma or certificate that signifies they have completed a Penn State program. Penn State World Campus is part of Penn State Online Education.
History
Penn State started offering distance education courses in 1892, when it launched one of the nation's first correspondence study programs to farmers around Pennsylvania. More than one hundred years later, in 1998, the university reaffirmed its commitment to providing accessible learning to all who need it with the launching of Penn State World Campus. One of several roots underpinning the policy decision to establish Penn State World Campus was a decade of experimentation at The American Centre for Study of Distance Education in the Penn State College of Education, in which Professor Michael G. Moore developed and taught some of the world's first online courses, including cadres of students in several cities in Mexico and Europe as well as the USA. Then Penn State Vice-President Jim Ryan became persuaded of the quality of the pedagogy being developed in these courses and in 1992 he commissioned the setting up of a university-wide task force to study the potential of a major initiative, the conclusion being that "The task force firmly believes that there is a very real possibility that national and international preeminence in distance education may prove to be a prerequisite to national and international preeminence in most other areas of academic enterprise." Moore led the development of the first World Campus master's degree courses in adult education.
Penn State World Campus uses multiple technologies to make some of Penn State's well-respected graduate, undergraduate, and continuing professional education programs available anytime, anywhere throughout the world.
Current Academics
Penn State World Campus delivers online education, maintaining the university’s academic standards and faculty expertise. Penn State Online Education units ensure courses meet compliance with accessibility while providing student services for distance learners. Penn State World Campus enables students to integrate coursework with professional responsibilities, gain diverse perspectives from peers, and demonstrate immediate workplace competencies. Its impact is reflected in the success of Penn State graduates who have benefited from its flexible and innovative learning opportunities. Courses are delivered asynchronously, allowing students to complete weekly assignments, readings, discussions, group work, and exams on their own schedules. Learning combines self-study with peer interactions to enhance educational outcomes.
In 2014, Penn State launched the first of its online doctoral offerings through Penn State World Campus, the Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P) programs. The degree programs are offered through the Penn State Nese College of Nursing. Students can enroll in the degree directly from the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) or from the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). The Nurse Practitioner DNP Degree Online degree is offered exclusively to nurses licensed to practice professional nursing in Pennsylvania. The doctoral nursing program course work is online with in-person intensive sessions and other doctoral benchmarks that are completed at the Pennsylvania State University Park campus.
In 2022, Penn State World Campus introduced the online Doctor of Engineering (D.Eng.), a 45-credit program emphasizing applied research and leadership.
Most recently, in 2023, it introduced the Doctor of Education (D.Ed.), a 37-credit program aimed to prepare those who want to work in leadership roles that shape the future of education and human services. The programs are both mostly taught online with a 1-week on-campus residency requirement.
Graduate Stackable Credentials
In 2024, Penn State World Campus introduced stackable credentials where online learners can now earn multiple Penn State credentials while working toward master’s degrees. Students complete 9- or 12-credit graduate certificates, some in a year or less, which can be combined within the same discipline to earn a master’s degree. This flexible approach enables working professionals to gain in-demand skills, advance their careers, and streamline their education.
Learning Design
The Learning Design unit at Penn State World Campus is comprised of professionals with graduate-level training in instructional systems design, educational psychology, curriculum and instruction, adult education, or related fields. By integrating learning theory with appropriate technologies, they aim to enhance learning outcomes while ensuring courses meet accessibility standards and comply with copyright regulations. Additionally, the unit conducts extensive testing and quality assurance processes to continuously refine courses, aligning them with evolving technological capabilities and educational objectives.
Students
As of 2025, the student body includes learners from all 50 states, more than 85 countries, and 7 continents. While the average Penn State World Campus undergraduate student is 29 years old and graduate student is 35 years old, students will interact with peers of all ages and backgrounds in their courses. More than 74% of students take classes part-time, enrolling in 1-2 courses per semester. According to graduate survey data, nine out of ten Penn State World Campus students were satisfied with their overall experience.
In January 2025, the Penn State World Campus Chaiken Center for Student Success was launched as a virtual hub designed to connect online learners with essential academic and student support services. This provides access to centralized academic advising, student disability services, and academic development along with all resources to help students thrive.
Funded by a gift from Roz and Gene Chaiken, the center aims to enhance student success by providing resources such as tutoring, mentoring, career services, and guidance in understanding financial aid options and scholarship opportunities.
The Chaiken Center reflects Penn State’s commitment to accessible, high-quality online education, ensuring that students worldwide receive the guidance needed to achieve their academic and professional goals.
Student Life
Students who attend Penn State through World Campus have access to a variety of activities that can help them get involved in the Penn State and World Campus communities. Students can participate in student organizations and virtual clubs and events, and they can also attend major Penn State events — such as THON, homecoming, and graduation — in person.
In February 2025, four of Penn State’s online learners participated as dancers in THON, the University’s largest student-run philanthropy program. This is the third-straight year that Penn State World Campus students have danced in the 46-hour marathon event alongside hundreds of their fellow Penn State students. A record-breaking total of $17.7 million was raised in 2025 for Four Diamonds, funding pediatric cancer research and supporting children and families fighting childhood cancer.
Alumni
As of 2025, the number of students who have earned their Penn State degree online through Penn State World Campus now exceeds the 40,000 mark. These alumni are part of the larger Penn State alumni community of more than 800,000 people worldwide. Penn State World Campus graduates can join the Penn State Alumni Association and continue to be involved through the World Campus Alumni Society. Penn State Alumni Association Societies, the alumni association, and alumni society host virtual events throughout each year to create connections among alumni. They also offer networking and career support, and they recognize alumni with annual awards.
Military
Penn State World Campus enrolls active military service members and their family members from all branches stationed across the world. Student veterans and those in the national guard and reserve make up a large part of the military-connected student population at World Campus, as well. As of the 2024 academic year, more than 16% of the students enrolled online through Penn State World Campus have reported having a military connection.
is approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs to certify GI Bill (R) benefits.
maintains standards in line with executive order 13607 Principles of Excellence and the 8 Keys to Veterans’ Success.
is a member institution of the Council on College and Military Educators (CCME).
offers specialized support services and financial aid for military-connected learners.
is a partner school with the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) through the Air University Associate-to-Baccalaureate Cooperative program (AU-ABC).
is an educational partner of the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy’s Fellowship Program.
is an educational partner of the United Services Organization (USO).
Rankings
U.S. News & World Report recognized 25 Penn State World Campus degree programs in their 2025 Best Online Programs rankings.[3]
No. 1 in Best Online Bachelor's in Psychology Programs[4]
No. 2 in Best Online in Master's in Educational/Instructional Media Design Programs[5]
No. 3 in Best Online Master's in Engineering Management Programs (tie)[6]
No. 3 in Best Online Master's in Mechanical Engineering Programs (tie)[7]
No. 4 in Best Online Bachelor's in Business Programs[8]
No. 4 in Best Online Master's in Engineering Programs[9]
No. 4 in Best Online Master's in Industrial Engineering Programs[10]
No. 6 in Best Online Master's in Curriculum and Instruction Programs[11]
No. 6 in Best Online Master's in Information Technology Programs (tie)[12]
No. 7 in Best Online Master's in Educational Administration Programs (tie)[13]
No. 8 in Best Online Finance MBA Programs (tie)[14]
No. 11 in Best Online Master's in Special Education Programs (tie)[15]
No. 13 in Best Online General Management MBA Programs (tie)[16]
No. 13 in Best Online Master's in Electrical Engineering Programs (tie)[17]
No. 15 in Best Online MBA Programs in Marketing (tie)[18]
No. 27 in Best Online Master's in Education Programs (tie)[19]
No. 33 in Best Online Master's in Business Programs (Excluding MBA) (tie)[20]
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