About Penn State Greater Allegheny

We are Penn State.

It started as a spirited cheer representing teamwork, humility, and all-for-oneness, but it’s also an invitation to discover a community driven to make a difference.

We are here. Together with communities across this Commonwealth, we've helped build brighter futures for generations of Pennsylvanians. It's a promise we've kept—and one that endures. In the Mon Valley, that commitment means connecting students with local employers, preparing our workforce for a rapidly changing future, supporting organizations that improve our community, and removing barriers to higher education. This is why we're here: to make a difference for today and for generations to come.

Serving Southwestern Pennsylvania and Beyond Since 1934

As Pennsylvania’s only land-grant university, Penn State has a broad mission of teaching, research, and public service. Penn State first offered technical courses in McKeesport and Pittsburgh in 1934. Since then, the campus has grown from its early home in a Victorian mansion in Dravosburg to its current 52-acre campus in White Oak, located next to a 205-acre park.

The Greater Allegheny campus ranks in the top 12% nationally for 40-year earnings, according to a report from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce.

A Community of Shared Pride and Success

Located just 15 miles from Pittsburgh in McKeesport, the Greater Allegheny campus is a residential campus within Penn State’s University College that combines personal support with the strength of a world-class Penn State education. Deeply connected to the region, our campus serves as a hub for education, cultural engagement, and workforce development.

Our alumni are everywhere. Penn State McKeesport and Greater Allegheny alumni live in 48 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Alumni also serve in the U.S. military around the world. Their connections continue to strengthen the Penn State community, with alumni sharing their expertise and supporting fellow Penn Staters and neighbors. More than 30,000 Penn State alumni live in Allegheny County, including 5,600+ who attended the Greater Allegheny campus.

Alumni and Friends

Your Penn State degree—right here in Pittsburgh.

Our faculty are engaged in research on local, regional, and global issues. Some include work that blends art and science, examines the history of the FBI, and studies trauma in international films. Faculty members have served as Fulbright Scholars, and have been honored with Penn State's George W. Atherton Award for Excellence in Teaching.

From access to state-of-the-art resources to interdisciplinary pursuits in collaborative atmospheres, a Penn State degree is more than an education. The experiences and knowledge gained here will form the foundation for the lives our students build. Their contributions to the world begin with a Penn State degree.

Academic Offerings

Sign that reads "Don't Quit Your Daydream" at the Mon Valley LaunchBox

A Hub of Collaboration and Innovation

Greater Allegheny campus, McKeesport and the University's Invent Penn State program engage the community, entrepreneurs and students to encourage economic development in the Mon Valley. The Mon Valley LaunchBox, located in downtown McKeesport, is a place where community members receive assistance to develop ideas into businesses.

Mon Valley LaunchBox

Birds-eye view of the city of McKeesport

One Community, Impacting Many

Our ideals stem from our origins, which allow us to continue to bring positive impact to humanity through our teaching, research, and engagement mission. And across the world is a community of Penn Staters—more than half a million strong—driven by that same spirit to serve our local and global communities.

Our impact extends beyond the classroom, fostering community engagement, economic development, and student success. Through education, service, and strategic partnerships, our campus continues to create meaningful change in our region and throughout Pennsylvania.

Discover Our Impact