Penn State College of IST

Innovate. Inspire. Impact.

You have big ideas and seek creative solutions. You value innovation, collaboration, and justice. You want to change the world. In IST, you can.

We Are.

Since we opened our doors in 1999 as one of the first information schools in the world, we have strived to solve the greatest challenges and harness the most exciting opportunities that exist at the intersection of information, technology, and society. Here, information and technology meet people, and innovation meets purpose. Our collaborative, interdisciplinary community empowers students to pursue meaningful careers and scholars to drive impactful discovery. Backed by a global university, vast resources, and the world’s largest alumni network, the College of IST is where diverse perspectives come together to create real change.

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Degree and certificate programs

#1

Best alumni network (Princeton Review, 2024)

#3

Best public schools for internships (Princeton Review, 2024)

#6

Best Online Master's in IT (USNWR, 2025)

3,000+

Enrolled students

17,000+

IST alumni around the world

2,300+

Positions posted to Nittany Lion Careers for IST students

$79.7M

External research funding granted since 2015

Degree Programs

students in a classroom at University Park

Applying to IST

Current Students

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Research

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Alumni and Donors

WE ARE statue at Penn State University Park.

Research or Regress

At Penn State, researchers are solving real problems that impact the health, safety, and quality of life of people across the Commonwealth, the nation, and around the world.

For decades, federal support for research has fueled innovation that makes our country safer, our industries more competitive, and our economy stronger. Recent federal funding cuts threaten this progress.

Learn more about the implications of federal funding cuts to your future.

See What’s at Stake

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Creating Leaders for the Information Age

We are about solving problems—not those found only in textbooks, but real-world problems that impact everyday lives. Our interdisciplinary programs position students and scholars to take on the complex challenges that exist at the intersection of information, technology, and people.

Discover Our Degree Programs

From Classroom to Career

Our graduates bring expertise and innovation to a variety of positions—from their first jobs to the executive suite—in business, health care, defense, technology, and countless other industries. Our programs respond to changing industry needs and prepare you with the technical expertise, business savvy, and communications skills employers want.

Explore Career Solutions Hire Our Students

$76,500

Average full-time starting salary

84%

Receive a job offer from an internship provider

60%

Complete multiple internships before graduating

*Undergraduate Students

Research in IST is transformative.

From cybersecurity to misinformation, human-centered computing to the AI revolution, our collaborative scholars are advancing understanding and driving innovative solutions that are shaping the way we live, work, and connect.

Human-Centered Computing and Social Informatics

Creating and evaluating interactive systems and studying the affective aspects of user experience.

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Informatics and Intelligent Systems

Advancing the capacity to model intelligent behavior and harnessing, applying, and integrating the insights of big data to our world.

Privacy and Cybersecurity Informatics

Detecting and removing threats of information misuse, enhancing predictability and trust, and understanding online privacy.

Alumni and friends in front of the Westgate Building.

Be involved. Make a difference.

We are more than a University. We are a network of 700,000 alumni that share a common connection to support the past, present, and future of Dear Old State. Your experiences and expertise can transform the college and the lives of our students.

Connect with IST

News

More News

<p>The 2025 Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts began Wednesday, July 9, with Children and Youth Day. The festival runs through Sunday, July 13, and features hundreds of independent vendors at tents and stages throughout Downtown State College and Penn State's University Park.</p>

July 10, 2025

In photos: 2025 Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts

<p>As an IST student, Charlie Watson, class of 2024, was actively involved with the Nittany AI Alliance. Now, as an alumnus, he's returned to Nittany AI as its first AI solutions architect.</p>