About the school

The Pennsylvania State University’s Smeal College of Business was founded in 1953 at College Township Centre County, Pennsylvania. The college prioritises research that impacts the world, ethical teaching with integrity, and a sustainable approach to education.

Smeal College of Business ranks 37 in the US News and World Report’s list of Best Business Schools in 2023.

More than 92,000 Smeal College of Business alumni are spread worldwide. Some of the famous personalities include John Surma (former chairman and CEO of US Steel Corp.), Patricia Woertz (president and CEO of Archer Daniels Midland), Doug Wilber (CEO of Denim Social), and many more.

The location of Smeal College of Business, State College, is a college town with a lot of dining spots and quirky shops.

Location of the School

Life at the Smeal College of Business

The Smeal College of Business is dedicated to enhancing diversity on its campus. The International Student Orientation programmes help international students transition into college life.

The University Park campus is home to 46,000 students, with over 14,000 of them living on campus. On-campus housing is provided in White Course Graduate and Family Apartments with one to three-bedroom units and the Patterson House. The Student Affairs Off-Campus Support Site lists off-campus residential options available near the College. The South and West Food Districts, HUB Dining at the HUB-Robeson Center with 12 restaurants, four Panera locations across campus, and many more dining areas make finding a nutritious meal every day an easy job.

The Centre Area Transit Authority (CATA) provides bus services on the campus, and students can use the Blue and White LOOP buses for free.

Additional Benefits of Studying at the Smeal College of Business

With more than 150 full-time faculty dedicating time and effort towards better education in its six academic departments, Smeal College of Business takes hands-on education very seriously. The research centres and institutes of the college have strong connections with leading researchers, senior executives and prominent business educators. Students, while working at these units, will get the opportunity to network with eminent personalities in the business world. Some of the research facilities on the campus are the Borrelli Institute for Real Estate Studies, the Center for the Business of Sustainability, the Center for Global Business Studies, etc.

Admissions criteria

The admission requirements vary for different courses. A general set of admission criteria laid down for international applicants applying to the graduate degree programmes at Smeal College of Business is as follows:

• Application fee
• A bachelor’s degree equivalent to a US undergraduate degree from an accredited institution
  • Official copy of bachelor’s degree certificate
  • Applicants whose transcripts are not in English must submit both the original and its translations
  • Statement of purpose
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Resume is required
  • Recent GMAT/GRE scorecard
  • Proof of English language proficiency is required:
  • TOEFL: 80 (iBT), 550 (paper-based)
  • IELTS: 6.5 overall

Visit the school website for more information on fees and tuition.

Job placements

Smeal College of Business is one of the largest business schools in the USA. The college has very impressive statistics on the placements of their graduates. During 2020-21, 97.5% of the students were placed within three months of graduation.

Penn State has a single-system recruiting platform for all students, alumni, and employers called Nittany Lion Careers. There are virtual internships or externships available for gaining the necessary skills. Smeal's Business Career Center (BCC) hosts a website to provide students with information about internships and job openings. Students can schedule resume reviews, mock interviews, or just a general appointment with a Smeal career coach through BCC online.