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Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) is a large public land‑grant research university in State College, Pennsylvania, known for its strong academics, national research profile, and spirited “We Are” Nittany Lion community. Students often rave about the big‑school energy, devoted football culture and campus‑wide game‑day traditions, the many clubs and organizations, and how the mix of academics, athletics, and a tight‑knit town keeps the campus lively all year.

State

Pennsylvania

Student Population

89,000

Acceptance Rate

55–58%

GPA Range

3.5–4.0

SAT Range

1220–1400

Common Majors

engineering, business, psychology, biology and health sciences

“Penn State feels like a huge, proud campus where you can study in big‑name programs, join tons of clubs and events, and still be part of a close‑knit community that rallies around football, traditions, and each other every semester.”

Team & Tuition

Divison

Division 1

Tuition (no scholarship)

In-state: $20,644; Out-of-state: $41,790

Conference

Big Ten Conference

Scholarships Available

Yes. Both athletic and academic.

Avg Men's Scores

72.76

Avg Women's Scores

75.94

Men's Team Notes

Nittany Lions men averaged 293.48 team scores over 29 rounds at Nemacolin Collegiate Invitational and Mason Rudolph Championship, posting top-10 finishes like 4th at Nemacolin with Griffin/Creamean's sub-73 averages. Par-5 strength fueled contention on Pennsylvania's rolling layouts.

Women's Team Notes

Lion women carded 76.81 first-round averages at Nittany Lion Invitational (Penn State GC Blue Course), improving to 75.94 in round two for competitive positioning against Ivy League foes. Balanced scoring advanced regional showings on home Blue Course layouts.

Coaches

Men's Coach

Mark Leon

Women's Coach

Kristen Simpson

Men's Email

markleon@psu.edu

Women's Email

kbs6262@psu.edu

Men's Coach Bio

Mark Leon is Penn State men’s head golf coach, leading the Nittany Lions in the Big Ten Conference. He oversees a program that competes in a strong, national‑level schedule and aims for consistent Big Ten‑championship‑level finishes and NCAA‑postseason‑eligible seasons. Leon emphasizes technical‑skill refinement, scoring‑oriented play, and a culture of accountability, helping develop student‑athletes who can contend both within the Big Ten and at NCAA‑Regional events.

Women's Coach Bio

Kristen Simpson is Penn State women’s head golf coach, directing the Nittany Lions in the Big Ten Conference. She leads a program that regularly competes in marquee tournaments and the Big Ten Championship, focusing on fundamentals, short‑game precision, and competitive‑experience development. Simpson builds a disciplined practice environment that values academics and leadership, aiming to steadily improve the team’s national‑ranking profile and push Penn State women’s golf toward more frequent NCAA‑postseason‑level results.

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