This is a list of famous individuals associated with the Pennsylvania State University, including graduates, former students, and professors.
Professors and Coaches
- John Barth, American novelist and short-story author
- Joseph Heller, author of Catch-22
- Joe Paterno, head football coach since 1966
- Rene Portland, head women's basketball coach since 1980
- C. R. Rao, 2002 National Medal of Science winning statistician
- Theodore Roethke, Pulitzer Prize winning poet
Alumni
Politics
- Harold Gehman, Former commander-in-chief of the U.S. Joint Forces Command and former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic
- Rick Santorum, Pennsylvania senator
Business
- Herman Fisher, co-founder of Fisher-Price toy company
- William Schreyer, chairman emeritus and former CEO of Merrill Lynch & Co
- Frank Smeal, financier
Science
- Paul Berg, recipient of 1980 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
- Guion Bluford, first African-American in space
- Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream
- Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream
- Joel Myers, founder of AccuWeather
- Paul J. Weitz, astronaut
Art/Media
- Donald Bellisario, television producer
- Charles Bierbauer, television journalist
- Julius J. Epstein, screenwriter of Casablanca
- Carmen Finestra, television producer
- Jonathan Frakes, actor and director (Star Trek series)
- Dave Jones, former national editor for The New York Times
- Mike Reid, country music songwriter
- Lisa Salters, Reporter for ESPN and former Nittany Lady Lion Basketball Star
Athletics
- LaVar Arrington, professional football player
- Ki-Jana Carter, professional football player
- Kerry Collins, professional football player
- Roosevelt Grier, former professional football player
- Franco Harris, former professional football player
- Kelly Mazzante, professional basketball player
- Suzie McConnell Serio, former professional basketball player, current coach