Q. What is a Commonwealth Campus (CWC)? 

A. A Commonwealth campus is one of Penn State’s 19 undergraduate campuses outside of the University Park campus. Penn State University has 20 undergraduate campuses geographically dispersed across Pennsylvania. All Penn State campuses offer diverse and unique educational experiences.

Q. Am I able to study my major at Penn State Hazleton? 

A. We offer multiple pathways for you to earn your Penn State degree. You can choose from one of 13 baccalaureate degrees, five associates degrees, and three minors to begin and finish at Penn State Hazleton. You can also begin one of 275+ Penn State academic programs at Penn State Hazleton before completing a degree at another campus as part of the 2+2 program.

Q. What is the 2+2 program? 

A. You can spend your first two years at Penn State Hazleton and then transition to another of Penn State’s twenty undergraduate campuses, including University Park, for the remaining two years. We call this approach the 2+2 plan, and it is the most common path to a Penn State degree. About 60 percent of students choose this option.

Once you enroll at your starting campus, you do not need to reapply for admission when it's time to move to your second campus. Students work with their academic advisers to complete the change of campus process. This process happens during the fourth semester (end of sophomore year) for most students, in anticipation of moving to the second campus for the fifth semester (junior year).

Your academic adviser will also make sure that you are on track to meet the entrance to major requirements for your chosen program. These requirements are the same whether you start at University Park or a Commonwealth campus.

Most of Penn State's majors can be started at any campus, where you will take your general education requirements and prerequisite courses for your major before moving to your ending campus to complete the remaining courses for your major.

Q: When can I arrive at Penn State Hazleton? 

A. Details about arrival for new international students will be communicated to the email on the student’s application to Penn State by the international student liaison the summer before enrollment.

Returning international students who are living in the residence halls are asked to return on the same day as all returning students, as indicated by their housing contract.

Returning international students who are living off campus should refer to their lease to learn the earliest date that they can return to Hazleton.

Q: Can I bring a rice cooker if I live in the residence halls? 

A. Unfortunately, rice cookers are not permitted in the residence hall rooms due to the safety risk they pose. For more items prohibited in the residence halls, look for the terms and conditions located on the Hazleton Campus Living website.

Q: What kind of local transportation is available? 

A. Penn State Hazleton offers a shuttle service on weekends to local stores such as Walmart and the mall; locations in Wilkes-Barre, including the movie theater and mall; and occasional trips to amusement parks, festivals, etc. Penn State students can also take the Hazleton Public Transit bus. The Penn State route is free with a Penn State ID Card. Visit the Hazleton Public Transit website to learn the various stops that make up the Penn State route and to explore other routes available for a fee. An online search will also produce other opportunities for public transportation around the local area and to nearby major cities.

Q. Do the residence halls close? 

A. Yes, our residence halls close for fall break, winter break, spring break and summer break. Students are required to vacate their rooms during these times. To see the specific dates for breaks, please consult the list of important dates on Penn State Hazleton's Campus Living website.

Q. Can I store my things in my residence hall room over breaks? 

A. You may leave your belongings in the room when the halls close for fall break, winter break, and spring break. All items must be removed from the room for summer break. If storage is needed for summer, please search online to locate local options for storage or ask a returning international student - they make great resources.

Q. What is the weather like in Hazleton, Pennsylvania? 

A. The Pennsylvania climate is typical of a temperate zone, with marked seasonal variations in temperature and precipitation. When packing for your academic year at Penn State Hazleton, bring clothes to wear for extreme heat to extreme cold weather. A generalization of the weather in each of the four seasons follows, but please know that the weather can vary quite a bit:

  • The fall season runs from mid-September through mid-November. During fall, the days are often warm and sunny and nights may be cool. Temperatures may range from 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15 Celsius) in the daytime, down to 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 Celsius) at night.
  • The winter season runs from December through March. Winter is marked by continuous cold weather: temperatures of about 32 degrees Fahrenheit to below 0 degrees Fahrenheit (0 to 20 Celsius). There may be snow, sometimes deep, at any time during winter.
  • The spring season runs from April through May. During spring, temperatures are increasingly warm and sunny days are common, though we have been known to have a surprise snowstorm in April. Temperatures sometimes reach 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15 Celsius). Hazleton also receives a significant amount of rain in spring. Purchasing an umbrella and rain boots is advised.
  • The summer season runs from June through mid-September. Temperatures average from 70 degrees Fahrenheit to 90 degrees Fahrenheit (25 to 35 Celsius). There is generally medium to occasional high humidity.