Editor's note: Penn State's Board of Trustees approved 2027-28 housing and food rates, as outlined below, during its meeting July 17 at Pennsylvania College of Technology.
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — The Penn State Board of Trustees Committee on Finance and Investment approved proposed housing and dining rates for the 2027-28 academic year today (July 16). Under the plan, students at University Park would experience the lowest aggregate percentage increase in the last nine years.
The proposal now moves to the full Board of Trustees for a final vote on Friday, July 17.
The plan would raise the combined cost of a renovated double room and the Signature Dining Plan at University Park by $194 per semester, or 2.5%. If approved, the aggregate percentage increase would be the lowest at University Park since the 2018-19 academic year, when rates also rose 2.5%. Penn State's housing and dining costs continue to rank below the Big Ten average.
According to Sara Thorndike, senior vice president for Finance and Business/treasurer and chief financial officer, the proposed rates reflect Penn State’s commitment to managing costs for resident students and their families, while also accounting for projected cost increases for food, operating expenses, Residence Life, employee salaries and benefits, maintenance, and debt service associated with Housing and Food Services' (HFS) capital plan.
“Our goal is to keep cost increases for our students and their families as low as possible,” Thorndike said. “These proposed rates reflect our continued commitment to responsible financial stewardship while allowing us to continue to invest in safe, welcoming on-campus living spaces and high-quality dining and support services.”
Housing and Food Services operates residence halls at 11 Penn State campuses across the commonwealth. The program is entirely self-supporting and receives no state appropriations or tuition funding. Instead, housing and dining fees paid by students who live and dine on campus fully fund the on-campus residential experience, covering operating costs, debt service, interest, maintenance, and facility renewal.
University Park housing and dining rates
At University Park, undergraduate housing rates would increase by 2.5% across all room types and residence hall areas.
The cost of a renovated double room — which now makes up the largest percentage of the room inventory at University Park — would rise by $119 per semester to $4,885. The Signature Dining Plan would increase by $75 per semester to $3,063. Together, the baseline housing and dining rate at University Park would total $7,948 per semester for the 2027-28 academic year.
Graduate students living in the White Course Apartments would not see a rate increase for the seventh consecutive year. A one-bedroom, one-bathroom, unfurnished apartment would remain $1,168 per month. Lease rates for the White Course Apartments last increased in 2020-21.
Commonwealth Campus rates
At all Commonwealth Campuses with residential dining, the Signature Dining Plan would increase by $42 per semester, or 1.5%, bringing the cost to $2,847.
At the Abington, Altoona, Beaver, Behrend, Berks, Brandywine and Harrisburg campuses, undergraduate housing rates would increase by 1.5%. The combined cost of a renovated double room and Signature Dining Plan would rise by $110 per semester to $7,439.
At the Greater Allegheny, Hazleton and Schuylkill campuses, undergraduate housing rates would remain unchanged for a second straight year. The combined cost of a traditional double room and Signature Dining Plan would increase only because of the dining plan adjustment, rising $42 per semester, or 0.68%, to $6,269.
The proposed 2027-28 rates for each campus and room type are available here, with final approved rates to be posted at liveon.psu.edu/rates. Housing and food rates for the 2026-27 academic year were previously approved by the Board of Trustees at its July 2025 meeting.
HFS capital plan update and facility renewal
For the 2027-28 fiscal year, Housing and Food Services will initiate the third phase of its capital plan focused on facility renewal in the Pollock Housing Area, with Hiester and Shulze residence halls reopening following renovations and Porter and Shunk halls going offline for refurbishment.
As part of the University's ongoing commitment to addressing deferred maintenance in its residential facilities, Housing and Food Services has budgeted $20 million for 2027-28 to support improvements across the commonwealth. Planned investments include roof replacements, plumbing repairs, elevator maintenance, furniture upgrades, painting, equipment, and technology and security enhancements.
LiveOn grant program expands support
Penn State’s LiveOn Student Success Grant program, launched during the 2021-22 academic year, continues to provide financial assistance to students with demonstrated need at all residential campuses.
The program, entering its sixth year in 2026-27, offers eligible students a renewable $3,000 annual grant for up to four years, providing total savings of as much as $12,000. For students who live on campus throughout their undergraduate careers, the grant covers roughly one year of housing and dining costs.
Housing and Food Services expects to award more than $1.3 million in LiveOn grants to 447 students during both the 2026-27 and 2027-28 academic years, up from more than $954,000 awarded to 318 students in 2025-26. Students can learn more about the LiveOn program online.
Additional resources are available for any Penn State student who may need food, housing or basic needs support.