Penn State's Ivy League status

I've been looking into Penn State and some of my friends told me it's an Ivy League school but I'm not sure. Is Penn State a part of the Ivy League and what does that mean for its prestige and selectivity?

Penn State is not part of the Ivy League. The Ivy League is a specific athletic conference that includes eight private, prestigious institutions in the Northeastern U.S. These include Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Brown, Dartmouth, the University of Pennsylvania, and Cornell. The term "Ivy League" has grown beyond its athletic conference origins to generally signify academic excellence, selectivity in admissions, and a reputation for social elitism.

That said, Penn State (officially known as Pennsylvania State University), is a noteworthy public research university that is a member of the Big Ten Sporting Conference, not the Ivy League. It is one of the largest universities in the U.S., renowned for its strong programs in areas like business, engineering, and information sciences, amongst others. In terms of selectivity, Penn State's acceptance rate is usually in the 50-60% range, a stark contrast to the single-digit acceptance rates at most Ivy League schools.

Nonetheless, it's critical to remember that prestige is relative and what might be more important is how well a college fits with your academic, career, and personal goals. A university doesn't have to be in the Ivy League to provide a high-quality education or for its graduates to be successful. Numerous non-Ivy League universities, including Penn State, have fostered vibrant academic communities and offer significant undergraduate research opportunities.