Safety Score
3.61 /1K students
incidents per 1,000 enrolled
University Park, PA · Clery Act 2023 · Public
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
According to the U.S. Department of Education's Clery Act filings, this profile covers campus safety, crime statistics, fire-safety data, and peer comparison for this 50,399-student campus.
- 3.61
- Incidents / 1k students
- #2,392
- Rank of 3,050
- #98
- PA rank
- 50,399
- Enrolled students
Data updated June 2026
The verdict
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus reports 3.61 on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students, ranking #2,392 of 3,050 ranked U.S. campuses - with more reported incidents than 79% of ranked campuses its size.
- 3.61
- incidents / 1,000 students
- #2,392
- of 3,050 ranked nationally
- 79%
- report fewer incidents than this campus
- 117
- on-campus incidents, 2023
Safety score = reported on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is safer).
Reporting-period change
What changed in 2023
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus increased from 100 to 117 reported on-campus incidents between the 2022 and 2023 reporting years in the U.S. Department of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey.
This is a change in reported incidents, not a measure of individual safety. Enrollment, reporting practice, and category coverage can affect the count.
See national reporting-year changesPennsylvania State University-Main Campus is a Public institution located in University Park, PA, enrolling approximately 50,399 students. Clery Act data spanning 2021–2023 records 297 total on-campus incidents across all reported crime categories. Within PA, it ranks #98 by safety score. Verify with the U.S. Department of Education Clery Act database →
With 50,399 enrolled students, this campus sits in the large research university bracket, which shapes how raw incident counts should be interpreted.
The most frequently reported category at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is "Rape" with 126 cumulative incidents across the reporting window. Compared to 5 peer institutions of similar enrollment size in PA averaging 2.07 incidents per 1,000 students, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus reports 74% more incidents per student.
Fire safety data covers 1 reporting year for on-campus residential facilities, logging 4 total fires. Arrests and disciplinary actions span 27 category-year records, covering liquor law violations, drug law violations, and weapons possession on-campus. Federal enforcement history shows 1 recorded Clery Act violation with associated fines, a material signal about institutional compliance.
National Rank
#2392
See peer comparison
State Rank (PA)
#98
within state peers
Incidents (2023)
117
across 11 crime categories
Where Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus sits among ranked U.S. campuses
On-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 students, every ranked campus with 2,000+ students
4 safer than 21% of 1,807 ranked campuses
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more ranked campuses. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Education, Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act) · 2023
Safety percentile vs. peers
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus percentile rank 21.6%
National median
Higher percentile = safer than more peers. Rank #2392 out of 3,050 ranked institutions (enrollment >= 500) in the OPE Campus Safety Survey.
Reporting density vs peer median
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus reports 74% more incidents per student than the median of 5 peer institutions.
Academic & Financial Profile
Tuition & Costs
- In-State Tuition
- $20,644
- Out-of-State Tuition
- $41,790
- Avg Net Price
- $32,875
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Pell Grant Recipients
- 14%
Admissions
- Acceptance Rate
- 61%
- SAT Average
- 1337
- SAT Math Range
- 620–720
- ACT Range
- 27–32
Outcomes
- 4-Year Graduation Rate
- 86%
- Retention Rate
- 93%
- Median Earnings (6yr)
- $55,620
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $63,435
- Loan Repayment (3yr)
- 79%
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard. Methodology.
Enrollment scale
How campus size shapes the safety figures
With 50,399 enrolled students, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is in the largest 1% of the 5,673 institutions in this dataset with a reported enrollment. The safety score above already normalizes reported on-campus incidents per 1,000 students, so compare it with similarly sized campuses instead of treating a higher raw count as evidence that a campus is less safe. Use the annual crime table to see what was reported, then use the peer comparison to judge the rate against schools of a similar scale. A lower reported rate is not a guarantee of individual safety or a measure of reporting quality.
Crime Statistics by Year
11 categories 3 reporting years on-campus onlyPennsylvania State University-Main Campus: on-campus incidents by year
Rising 46% (80 → 117 incidents)
| Crime Type | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aggravated Assault | 9 | 11 | 5 |
| Arson | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Burglary | 13 | 11 | 9 |
| Fondling | 25 | 28 | 22 |
| Incest | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 20 | 5 | 1 |
| Murder / Non-Negligent Manslaughter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Negligent Manslaughter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rape | 42 | 43 | 41 |
| Robbery | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Statutory Rape | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Source: US Dept US Dept of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey. Figures show on-campus incidents
Fire Safety
| Year | Fires | Inj. | Deaths | Cat I | Cat II |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Arrests & Disciplinary Actions
27 category-year records| Category | Year | Arrests | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drugs | 2023 | 18 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2023 | 65 | 91 |
| Liquor | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2023 | 163 | 819 |
| Weapons | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Weapons | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Weapons | 2023 | 1 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2022 | 12 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2022 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2022 | 47 | 146 |
| Liquor | 2022 | 0 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2022 | 0 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2022 | 207 | 963 |
| Weapons | 2022 | 1 | 0 |
| Weapons | 2022 | 0 | 0 |
| Weapons | 2022 | 0 | 1 |
| Drugs | 2021 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2021 | 0 | 0 |
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus vs peer institutions
Side-by-side safety scores for 3 peers of similar enrollment
Scores are incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is fewer).
PA
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
3.61 incidents / 1,000 students
WV
American Public University System
0.00 incidents / 1,000 students
NJ
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
2.69 incidents / 1,000 students
Similar Institutions
American Public University System
Charles Town, WV · 50,187 enrolled
Safety Score 0.00
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
New Brunswick, NJ · 50,617 enrolled
Safety Score 2.69
Houston Community College
Houston, TX · 49,749 enrolled
Safety Score 0.46
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI · 49,605 enrolled
Safety Score 2.64
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI · 51,316 enrolled
Safety Score 4.58
Closest by National Rank
Institutions ranked nearest Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus nationally (rank #2392), regardless of size or state.
Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, TX
National Rank #2391
Terra State Community College
Fremont, OH
National Rank #2393
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
North Chicago, IL
National Rank #2390
Universal Technical Institute of Northern California Inc
Sacramento, CA
National Rank #2394
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Hickory, NC
National Rank #2389
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus safe?
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus has a safety score of 3.61 (total on-campus incidents per 1,000 enrolled students) and ranks #2,392 nationally out of 3,050+ ranked institutions. Compare this with peer institutions for context.
What crimes are reported at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus?
Aggravated Assault, Arson, Burglary, Fondling, Incest, and other categories, for calendar year 2023.
How does Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus compare to similar schools?
See the Similar Institutions section below for peers of similar enrollment in PA.
Does Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus have fire safety data?
Yes. Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus reports fire safety data for on-campus residential facilities, including total fires, injuries, deaths, and fire damage categories. 4 fires were reported in the most recent year.
Understanding Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus's Safety Profile
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus in University Park, PA enrolls 50,399 students and has a safety score of 3.61 incidents per 1,000 enrolled students , ranking #2392 nationally.
Reported incidents cover 2021 to 2023. On-campus incidents increased from 100 in 2022 to 117 in 2023.
Fire safety data covers on-campus residential facilities. 4 fires were reported in the most recent year.
DOE Enforcement Actions
2019 Clery Act Violation $2,397,000
Failure to properly classify and report campus crime statistics related to the Jerry Sandusky case. DOE found systemic failures in crime reporting, timely warnings, and campus security policies.
Fine paid. University implemented comprehensive compliance overhaul.
What this means for you
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus's 3.61 reported on-campus incidents per 1,000 students is a starting point for comparison, not a verdict on any student's safety.
- Weigh Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus against similar-size campuses, scale changes what the raw count means. Compare campuses
- A higher count can mean stronger reporting, not more danger. How the data works
- Clery covers campus grounds only. Campus vs. city crime
Figures reflect the 2023 Clery Act reporting year as filed with the U.S. Department of Education.
Data sourced from the U.S. Department of Education, OPE Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act). See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCampus Editorial
Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal Clery Act source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.