Is Penn State World Campus part of the real Penn State?
Yes! Penn State World Campus is one of Penn State's twenty-five campus locations. Our students are Penn State students and are held to the same rigorous standards as Penn State students attending courses on campus. Your transcript will look the same as any other Penn State student's transcript, and your diploma will look the same as any other Penn State student's diploma. There will be no differentiation that you studied through distance education. You can learn more about our history or mission by visiting the about us section of our Web site.
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Is Penn State World Campus accredited?
Penn State is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and has an outstanding reputation as a research and teaching university. Our courses are also accepted by most other colleges and universities in fulfillment of their requirements.
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Is financial aid available to World Campus students?
Yes. Detailed information about financial aid, scholarships, and other forms of aid can be found on our paying for your education page.
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How do I transfer credits from another university to Penn State?
First and foremost, if you are planning to transfer college credits to Penn State, the college must be accredited by one of the following accrediting agencies:
| Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools |
Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges |
| New England Association of Schools and Colleges |
Southern Association of Schools and Colleges |
| North Central Association of Colleges and Schools |
Western Association of Schools and Colleges |
Specific information can be found in the transfer students section.
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Does Penn State accept professional experience for credit?
Penn State only accepts certain types of professional experience for credit toward fulfilling degree requirements—a process called Credit by Portfolio Evaluation, which is typically restricted to students with particular types of formal professional training, such as nurses or police officers. Some aspects of military training will also result in transfer credits if officially documented. Other types of professional training are considered on a case-by-case basis, but the review is costly and rarely results in credit conferral. Contact one of our academic advisers for further information.
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How do I get my textbooks and other course materials?
Software for World Campus courses can be purchased at academic prices through education software vendor JourneyEd.com.
All textbooks for World Campus courses should be ordered through our contracted partner, MBS Direct. Should your World Campus course be cancelled, MBS Direct will refund the cost according to their return policy. If you purchase materials from a provider other than MBS Direct, you are responsible for verifying that the edition of the text is exactly the one required for your course; you are also responsible for knowing that vendor's return policy in the event your course is cancelled. World Campus is not responsible for refunding the cost of your course materials (purchased through MBS Direct or any other vendor) under any circumstances.
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How do I know if distance learning is right for me?
Learning through distance education requires a significant amount of self-motivation and commitment. Having the flexibility to study at the time that is most convenient for you means you won't have a firm schedule as you would in many on-campus courses. You will need to establish and hold to a fixed study schedule in order to successfully complete your course work. Because most of our students are juggling numerous life commitments at the same time they're taking courses, it's essential that you find a balance between your life responsibilities and course work to remain motivated.
Remember—we're here for you! With our amazing team of academic advisers, technical support experts, customer service representatives, and Penn State instructors, we'll help you get where you want to go—successfully—through distance education.
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