$44,574 /Yr
Pennsylvania State University Bachelor of Arts in Humanities is a four-year, 120-credit, full-time degree completed at Harrisburg for Fall 2027. Indian applicants need completed secondary education, while calculated tuition and mandatory fees total US$120,684 (INR 1.15 Crore).
The programme connects arts, history, philosophy, religion, literature and writing through interdisciplinary courses and two chosen subfields. It suits analytical readers seeking a flexible academic route, although career direction depends on purposeful electives, a minor or practical experience.
- Students investigate two humanities subfields in depth instead of following one narrow disciplinary sequence.
- The curriculum develops research, interpretation and communication through four staged interdisciplinary humanities courses.
- A business administration, communications or writing minor can give the flexible major a clearer professional direction.
Current Admission Status
Applications for the Fall 2027 intake are Open. International student deadline: 28 July 2027.
Penn State offers Early Action on 1 November 2026 and reviews later applications on a rolling basis. Indian applicants should use Early Action to preserve campus availability and adequate visa-processing time.
Also Check: Penn State undergraduate admission
Penn State B.A. Humanities Fees and Living Costs 2027
Penn State publishes 2027-28 Harrisburg tuition by undergraduate level rather than by major. The calculation uses two lower-division years, two upper-division years and mandatory international and student fees.
Fall 2027 published charges: Annual figures cover two full-time semesters, while the four-year total holds current rates unchanged for planning.
| Charge | Published amount | INR equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Lower-division tuition per year | US$27,174 | INR 25.91 Lakhs |
| Upper-division tuition per year | US$28,872 | INR 27.53 Lakhs |
| Student fee per year | US$648 | INR 61,799 |
| International undergraduate fee per year | US$1,500 | INR 1.43 Lakhs |
| Calculated four-year tuition and fees | US$120,684 | INR 1.15 Crore |
All INR conversions in the article use a conversion rate of USD 1 = INR 95.35 as of 06 August 2026. Rates fluctuate daily, verify before applying.
Source: Penn State 2027-28 Harrisburg tuition and mandatory fee schedules.
The four-year figure excludes insurance, travel and later rate increases because Penn State does not guarantee a fixed price. Families should therefore treat INR 1.15 Crore as an academic-cost floor rather than a complete degree budget.
Cost of Living in Harrisburg for Humanities Students
Penn State’s official estimate combines living costs and books into one annual amount rather than publishing an invented category breakdown. This estimate remains distinct from residence prices and immigration financial evidence.
| Expense | Monthly (USD) | Monthly (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Combined living costs and books | US$1,725 | INR 1.64 Lakhs |
| Annual total | US$20,700 | INR 19.74 Lakhs |
Lower-division tuition, mandatory fees and living costs create a calculated first-year baseline of US$50,022 (INR 47.70 Lakhs). Holding every published rate unchanged gives a four-year planning illustration of US$203,484 (INR 1.94 Crore).
Read More: cost of living in the United States
ROI reality: The calculated four-year planning budget reaches INR 1.94 Crore, so applicants need funding that does not depend on an uncertain humanities salary.
Penn State B.A. Humanities Admission 2027
First-year applicants enter Penn State through international undergraduate admission rather than a separate Humanities selection round. Progression into the major later requires 27.1 credits and a 2.00 Penn State GPA.
Academic Eligibility for Indian Applicants
Penn State publishes no minimum Indian percentage for Humanities. Applicants report their final three school years through STARS, the Self-reported Transcript and Academic Record System, while Penn State makes the official equivalency decision.
| Requirement | Published rule | Indian applicant action |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary education | Completed school credential | Report Grade X to XII coursework and results accurately |
| Academic record | Required school subjects reviewed comprehensively | Keep board names, subjects and marks on their original scale |
| SAT or ACT | Optional for first-year admission | Submit only when the result strengthens the record |
| Entrance to Humanities | 2.00 Penn State GPA after 27.1 credits | Approximately 55% to 60%, or CGPA 6.0 to 6.5 on 10; Penn State decides equivalency |
| Degree completion | 120 credits with C or better in designated major courses | Reserve degree space for language and two humanities subfields |
The B.A. also requires world-language proficiency through the twelfth-credit level. Indian applicants without advanced language placement should account for up to four courses before committing elective space to a minor.
English Language Proficiency
Applicants whose native language is not English need an accepted route, and test scores must be under two years old. Penn State’s live policy distinguishes TOEFL attempts taken before and after 21 January 2026.
| Accepted route | Current minimum |
|---|---|
| TOEFL after 21 January 2026 | 4.5 on the internet-based TOEFL |
| TOEFL before 21 January 2026 | 80 on the internet-based TOEFL |
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 overall |
| Duolingo English Test | 120 |
| SAT Reading and Writing | 570 |
- Use Penn State’s published TOEFL scale for the test date because applicants must not self-convert an older result.
- IELTS Academic provides a 6.5 route for applicants who prefer a familiar scale during the TOEFL transition.
- Penn State rejects TOEFL MyBest Scores, so one accepted sitting must independently satisfy the minimum.
Tip for Indian students: Accurate school reporting establishes first-year eligibility, while language planning determines how much room remains for a career-focused minor.
Penn State B.A. Humanities Application 2027
Fall 2027 applicants use MyPennState or Common App and should complete Early Action by 1 November 2026. Penn State reviews later files on a rolling basis until the international final deadline.
Published Fall 2027 sequence: Penn State does not state a portal cutoff time beside these dates, so applicants should follow the timestamp displayed inside their application.
| Stage | Published date | Applicant action |
|---|---|---|
| Application opens | 1 August 2026 | Start MyPennState or Common App |
| Early Action deadline | 1 November 2026 | Complete the application and STARS record |
| Early Action decision | By 24 December 2026 | Check for admission, denial or deferral |
| Offer acceptance | 1 May 2027 | Accept admission and begin immigration documentation |
| International final deadline | 28 July 2027 | Complete any remaining fall application |
The official dates carry no published time-zone cutoff, preventing a reliable same-day IST conversion. Indian applicants should finish by 31 October 2026 IST for Early Action instead of depending on an unstated Pennsylvania portal time.
Application Components and Course Fit
A complete file includes the application, STARS academic record and English evidence when required. Humanities has no published first-year portfolio, so applicants should demonstrate fit through sustained reading, writing, language and arts-related coursework.
- Report every subject and mark exactly because Penn State later verifies self-reported records against official documents.
- Connect academic interests to two likely humanities subfields, showing a coherent use for the programme’s flexibility.
- Keep Common App and STARS completion receipts because both affect whether Penn State can review the file.
Application tip: Use 1 November 2026 as the working deadline because rolling review can reduce campus availability before the international final date.
Penn State B.A. Humanities Scholarships 2027
Penn State does not publish a guaranteed Humanities award for Fall 2027 international entrants. Funding is competitive, so applicants must retain gross tuition and living costs until they receive a written award.
Current published funding: The international grant has a stated typical range, while campus and donor awards do not publish a guaranteed value for this intake.
| Funding route | Published value | INR equivalent | Eligibility and route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special International Grant-in-Aid | Typically US$100 to US$2,000 | INR 9,535 to INR 1.91 Lakhs | Enrolled full-time non-immigrant students apply through iStart |
Penn State Harrisburg also distributes campus and donor scholarships, but the live material does not state a Humanities-specific Fall 2027 amount. Applicants should ask whether admission automatically triggers consideration or whether a separate campus form is required.
- Do not deduct the international grant from financial evidence because its published maximum remains much smaller than annual tuition.
- Ask Harrisburg about Humanities donor awards after admission because eligibility and application routes can differ by fund.
- Preserve external scholarship documents and deadlines separately because Penn State cannot guarantee third-party disbursement timing.
Scholarship reality: The published US$2,000 (INR 1.91 Lakhs) typical maximum covers a small fraction of first-year costs, requiring an independent funding plan.
Penn State B.A. Humanities Salary 2027
Penn State publishes no salary, offer rate or employer list for a named Humanities B.A. cohort. The official programme instead identifies routes in arts administration, communications, government, teaching, museum work, law and postgraduate study.
Evidence scope: These are curriculum-supported career directions, not placements or typical graduate outcomes.
| Programme evidence | Career implication | Applicant action |
|---|---|---|
| Two chosen humanities subfields | Creates a focused academic narrative within a broad degree | Select fields that support one intended sector |
| Research and communication outcomes | Supports writing, analysis and evidence-based project work | Preserve substantial assignments as portfolio samples |
| Recommended minor combinations | Adds business, communications or writing context | Map minor prerequisites before choosing electives |
| Harrisburg career support | Provides resume, interview and internship guidance | Seek relevant experience before the final year |
A salary-based payback calculation would be unsound because no course-cohort earnings figure exists. Combining the degree with a targeted minor, work samples and internships creates the strongest financial case.
Return on Investment for Indian Students
The calculated four-year planning budget is US$203,484 (INR 1.94 Crore), while course-level earnings remain unpublished. This creates high debt risk for applicants relying on a specific first job or prolonged United States employment.
- The flexible curriculum supports several sectors, but applicants should select two subfields that lead toward one demonstrable professional narrative.
- No cohort salary supports a repayment forecast, so borrowers should model loans using verified offers from their intended role and location.
- Standard OPT lasts 12 months for this non-STEM degree, limiting the period available to test a United States employment route.
- India-return earnings cannot be inferred from American role salaries, so applicants should obtain local role benchmarks before accepting debt.
Take-home pay changes with work location, tax and employment status, so any gross offer needs checking through the relevant government tax estimator. Applicants should not treat a converted American salary as an Indian repayment benchmark.
ROI reality: This programme fits applicants who value interdisciplinary study and can fund it without assuming a particular salary, scholarship or extended work period.
USA Visa for Penn State B.A. Humanities Students 2027
Indian students normally use the F-1 student visa, followed by OPT, meaning Optional Practical Training. Humanities is not identified for the STEM extension, so graduates should plan around the standard 12-month OPT period.
- The F-1 visa fee is US$185 (INR 17,640), while the SEVIS I-901 fee is US$350 (INR 33,373).
- OPT employment must relate directly to Humanities, making a coherent subfield and minor combination important during job searches.
- H-1B sponsorship has no single national salary threshold because employers must meet the higher applicable actual or prevailing wage.
- F-2 dependants may accompany the student but cannot work, while employment-based residence through EB-2 or EB-3 has no guaranteed timeline.
Check Out: United States student visa requirements
Visa reality: The 12-month standard OPT window rewards applicants who connect Humanities coursework, work samples and internships to a specific occupation before graduation.
Penn State B.A. Humanities Ranking 2027
U.S. News places Penn State No. 26 globally for Arts and Humanities in its 2026-27 subject results. This broad research ranking covers the field across Penn State rather than this Harrisburg bachelor’s cohort.
Ranking scope: The result measures university subject performance and must not be interpreted as a Humanities B.A. placement rank.
| Ranking edition | Subject scope | Position |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. News Best Global Universities 2026-27 | Arts and Humanities | No. 26 globally |
The ranking supports Penn State’s research visibility across arts and humanities, but it cannot answer whether the Harrisburg curriculum fits an applicant. Two-subfield choice, minor access and total cost remain more direct undergraduate decision factors.
Check Out: Pennsylvania State University profile
Honest take: No. 26 signals broad subject research strength, while applicants still need to test the Harrisburg curriculum against their intended subfields and career plan.
Penn State’s Humanities B.A. fits analytical students who want to connect two humanities fields and shape that breadth through a purposeful minor. Its staged interdisciplinary core develops research and communication, but unpublished cohort salaries and a INR 1.94 Crore planning budget create a serious funding tradeoff. Indian applicants should choose likely subfields before applying, test their career logic against the 12-month OPT window and complete Early Action by 1 November 2026.
Penn State B.A. Humanities FAQs
Ques. Where is Penn State’s Humanities B.A. completed?
Ans. Fall 2027 entrants can begin at an available Penn State campus and complete the degree at Harrisburg. Fayette is not accepting new students because it closes after Spring 2027.
Ques. Is the Penn State Humanities B.A. worth its cost?
Ans. It can fit applicants who value two-field interdisciplinary study and can fund INR 1.94 Crore without salary-dependent debt. Penn State publishes no course-cohort salary for a payback forecast.
Ques. How should an applicant choose Humanities subfields?
Ans. Select two fields that support one intellectual or professional direction, then use a business, communications or writing minor to add applied evidence.
Ques. When should an Indian student apply for Fall 2027?
Ans. Complete the application and STARS by 1 November 2026 for Early Action. Waiting until 28 July 2027 exposes the applicant to rolling availability and limited visa-processing time.
Ques. Can scholarships make Penn State Humanities affordable?
Ans. The published international grant is typically US$100 to US$2,000 (INR 9,535 to INR 1.91 Lakhs). Its scale cannot replace a full tuition and living-cost plan.
Important Alert
- Final Application Deadline for Spring Intake - Oct 1, 2026
Tuition Fees
| Year | 1st Year Fees |
|---|---|
| Tuition Fees | $44574 |
Other Expenses
| Head | Avg Cost Per Year |
|---|---|
| Books and supply | $1290 |
| Total Cost | $1290 |
Previous Year Tuition Fees
| Year | 1st Year Fees |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $43280 |
| 2023 | $36974 |
| 2021 | $35984 |
Important Dates
| Event | Application Date |
|---|---|
| Final Application Deadline for Summer Intake | |
| Final Application Deadline for Fall Intake | |
| Final Application Deadline for Spring Intake | Oct 1, 2026 |
| Regular Application Deadline for Spring Intake | Jan 6, 2026 - Oct 1, 2026 |
| Early Action Application Deadline for Fall and Summer Intake | Jan 8, 2025 - Nov 1, 2026 |
| Priority Application Deadline for Fall and Summer Intake | Jan 8, 2026 - Feb 1, 2027 |
Scores Required
Required Document List
- Apply via MyPennState or Common App
- Submit STARS self-reported grades
- Provide official transcripts (last 3 years)
- SAT/ACT optional
- English test required


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Key Resources for Your Study Abroad Journey
Scholarship Grants & Financial Aids
| Name | Scholarship Per Student | Level of Study | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship Program | Scholarship per student$ 10,000/Yr$10,000 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Axol Science Scholarship | Scholarship per student$ 2,000/Yr$2,000 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeCompany-Sponsored | |
| VueVille Future Technology Scholarship | Scholarship per student$ 1,000/Yr$1,000 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
| R&D Systems Scholarship | Scholarship per student$ 1,500/Yr$1,500 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
| BL Mandhana Scholarships | Scholarship per student$ 10,000/Yr$10,000 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Go Clean Scholarship | Scholarship per student$ 3,500/Yr$3,500 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based |
















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