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University Park, Pennsylvania is the unincorporated community that serves as the official address of Penn State University's main campus, though students and residents broadly refer to the surrounding area as State College. The Borough of State College encircles the campus and functions as the social, commercial, and residential hub for Penn State's more than 40,000 undergraduates and thousands of graduate students and faculty. The area offers a quintessential college town experience, with a vibrant downtown along College Avenue and Allen Street, a full range of dining, retail, and entertainment options, and a community calendar driven largely by the university's academic and athletic calendar. Winters are cold and snowy, but the area's compactness and walkability make it manageable for students without cars. The combination of a large student population and a relatively small geographic footprint makes the State College area one of the most active college rental markets in the country.
The most sought-after student neighborhood, directly north of campus along Beaver Avenue, with short walks to class and downtown State College.
Just southwest of campus, a quieter residential feel within easy walking or biking distance of central campus.
For students who prioritize access to bars, restaurants, and shops, with many apartments above commercial spaces.
A larger apartment-complex environment with easier parking and lower rents, requiring a bus ride or longer walk.
Modern apartment inventory added in recent years for students willing to live a bit farther from the student core.
Here's what you need to know about getting around University Park.
The Centre Area Transportation Authority (CATA) operates an extensive bus network that connects the Penn State campus to neighborhoods throughout State College and the surrounding region, including College Heights, the Beaver Avenue corridor, South Allen Street, and the Highlands. Bus service is free for Penn State students with a valid university ID, making it one of the most cost-effective ways to get around without a car. Routes run frequently during the academic year, with reduced schedules on weekends and during university breaks, so students should plan accordingly during holidays.
State College is one of the most walkable college towns in Pennsylvania, with the compact Borough layout placing most student housing, dining, and campus buildings within a 15 to 30 minute walk of each other. The campus itself is best navigated on foot, and the surrounding streets have a well-established network of sidewalks connecting popular student neighborhoods to class buildings and downtown. Biking is popular and practical in flat central State College, though hilly terrain in some residential areas and harsh winters can limit year-round cycling for some students.
Parking on or near campus is limited and can be expensive, and Penn State does not permit freshmen living in residence halls to bring cars to campus. Upperclassmen living off campus often have access to parking through their rental properties or nearby lots, but driving to campus is generally discouraged given the quality of transit and walking options. Students who do bring cars find them most useful for grocery runs, weekend travel, and reaching destinations in the broader Centre County area not served by CATA.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Most off-campus Penn State students rent in the Borough of State College, particularly in College Heights, the Beaver Avenue corridor, and the South Allen Street and Holmes-Foster neighborhoods. These areas offer the best combination of walkability to campus, proximity to downtown, and a well-established student community.
Browse student housing near each University Park-area university.