Onward State

Penn State sophomore Sean Thomas is pursuing a music career while keeping up with his studies, telling Onward State that doing both is 'that's the dream'. The feature highlights how the student manages coursework alongside songwriting and performing, a juggling act familiar to many young artists on campus trying to break into the industry before graduation.

Penn State's College of Health and Human Development has introduced a new public health major, expanding academic options for students interested in community health, prevention and health policy. The announcement, reported by student outlet Onward State, marks a formal undergraduate pathway in a field that has drawn growing interest since the pandemic. Details on curriculum and enrollment have not yet been widely reported.

Penn State has announced a new grant program to support faculty work in artificial intelligence. The funding, reported by student outlet Onward State, will back research and teaching projects across the university. The news is drawing attention from students and academics as universities compete to expand AI resources and keep pace with rapid growth in the field.

Penn State has been ranked in the top 5% of universities worldwide in the 2027 Times Higher Education World University Rankings. The placement confirms the university's standing among thousands of globally assessed institutions, with student news outlet Onward State reporting the result. The annual rankings evaluate universities on teaching, research, citations, international outlook and industry income.