Program Costs
Tuition
Students must pay the current Penn State undergraduate tuition rate for PUBPL 490 (3 credits) and for however many internship credits their major allows. This means that the minimal tuition bill would involve 4 credits (PUBPL 490, 3 credits, and 1 credit of internship). However, many students choose to receive more internship credit. Note that different programs/majors have their own policies regarding how much credit they award fulltime, semester long internships. The range across majors runs from 1 credit to 9 credits, though the most common approach involves 3 credits. Moreover, some students choose to register for fewer internship credits than they are eligible for in order to save money or because they do not need the credits.
For information on tuition costs, see http://tuition.psu.edu You can click on the tuition schedule and tuition calculator to explore the costs associated with different levels of internship credit.
Liberal Arts Scholarships for University Park Students
Students must be full-time undergraduates ( i.e., at least 12 credits per semester) whose primary major is in the College of Liberal Arts at the University Park campus who require funds to support activities such as internships, study abroad, travel to professional conferences associated with the major, and other related activities.
2009-2010 Application for Student Enrichment
University Park Liberal Arts majors should apply for Enrichment Funding as early as possible!
The Cliff Jones Fund
Several stipends of $2,500 each are available to undergraduate students who enroll in the summer Harrisburg Semester program offered through Penn State Harrisburg’s School of Public Affairs.
Preference will be given to students who take non-paying internships and who exhibit an outstanding academic record and a commitment to public service leadership.
"The college has committed financing through the Cliff Jones Program Fund for Good Government to help support worthy students from throughout Pennsylvania enrolled in the Harrisburg Semester program," said school Director Steven A. Peterson.
Funding to create The Cliff Jones Fund, named in honor of the longtime Penn State Harrisburg advocate who served four Pennsylvania governors in cabinet positions, was initiated to financially assist students in the Harrisburg Semester program which he helped create.
For information on the stipends or the Harrisburg Semester program, contact Dr. Peterson at sap12@psu.edu (717-948-6154) or Dr. Carol Nechemias at c4n@psu.edu (717-948-6049).
Honors Students
Honors students should check with their honors adviser as well as the head of their honors program regarding the availability of financial aid for students involved in internship and public service projects.
Housing
Rental rates for area apartments and housing, including the International House, list between $550-$750 per month. We recommend the International House (I-House) as an excellent option; you can walk to most internship sites from that location, a short distance from the Capitol. The I-House was created to provide a warm and friendly environment where U.S. and foreign students, scholars and interns, can live and learn from one another through their everyday activities. See http://www.ihousehbg.org/ for more information. The International House may fill and students should therefore reserve housing as early as possible. There will be a $500 credit toward housing costs at the I-House for summer 2010 for up to five students; these will be based on need. These credits reflect the I-House’s involvement in the Cliff Jones Program Fund for Good Government.
On-campus housing at Penn State Harrisburg also is an option. The Penn State Harrisburg campus is located in Middletown, eight miles east of downtown Harrisburg. Please contact Penn State Harrisburg Housing and Food Services at 717-948-6241 for more information.
Students should also budget for food, transportation, and entertainment.