Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton

Penn State Hazleton stands as a testament to community-driven education, born from the heart of the Great Depression. With just over 500 students, this public satellite campus offers an intimate yet robust academic environment. It's renowned for providing an accessible entry point to a Penn State education, where students can begin their studies close to home before seamlessly transitioning to the University Park campus or another institution to complete their degree.

Its rich history began in 1934 when, at the request of local leaders, Penn State established the Hazleton Undergraduate Center to serve a community yearning for higher education amidst economic hardship. Starting with just 47 full-time students, the center moved through various temporary locations before finding a permanent home in 1948. This new site, "Highacres," was the picturesque 26-acre estate of a local coal baron, Eckley B. Markle, transforming a grand mansion and its surrounding buildings into a unique educational setting.

Today, the campus has expanded to 125 acres, blending its historic roots with modern academic buildings and student amenities. The stately administration building, once Markle's mansion, remains a symbol of the campus, now complemented by a three-quarters scale Nittany Lion statue. Students benefit from this unique blend of heritage and contemporary resources, enjoying a vibrant campus life that prepares them for success within the broader Penn State system, all while nestled in a beautiful setting with manicured gardens and nature trails.