Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania is a public university located at 15200 Kutztown Rd in Kutztown, Berks County, roughly midway between Reading and Allentown along the Route 222 corridor. It is one of the member institutions of Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education, which means it operates as a state-owned university with tuition rates set at the system level and a mission centered on accessible undergraduate and graduate education for residents of the Commonwealth and beyond. The main switchboard can be reached at +1 610-683-4000.

The university enrolls undergraduate and graduate students across four academic colleges and maintains a residential campus on the northern edge of the borough of Kutztown, a small town known regionally for its Pennsylvania German heritage. Students come primarily from eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Maryland and Delaware, though the institution also draws international students and adult learners returning to finish degrees.

History and Background

The institution traces its origins to 1866, when it opened as Keystone State Normal School, an academy established to train teachers for the growing public school systems of eastern Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth purchased the school in the 1920s, and it was renamed Kutztown State Teachers College, reflecting its continued focus on teacher preparation. As its academic offerings broadened beyond education, the name changed again to Kutztown State College in the 1960s. University status arrived in 1983 with the creation of the State System of Higher Education, at which point the school took its present name.

Traces of that history remain visible on campus. Old Main, the oldest building on the grounds, still anchors the central quad and houses administrative offices. The teacher preparation mission also persists: education remains one of the larger academic units, and graduates of the program teach in school districts throughout Berks, Lehigh, Northampton, Schuylkill, Montgomery and Chester counties.

Academic Colleges and Programs

Degree programs are organized into four colleges:

• The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the largest unit, covering fields such as biology, chemistry, computer science, criminal justice, English, history, mathematics, psychology, political science, social work and the modern languages.
• The College of Visual and Performing Arts, which includes the Department of Art and Design, the Department of Music, the Department of Cinema, Television and Media Production, and communication studies.
• The College of Education, which prepares candidates for Pennsylvania teaching certification in early childhood, middle level, secondary content areas, special education and library science, along with graduate work in counseling and educational leadership.
• The College of Business, offering accounting, finance, management, marketing, supply chain and professional leadership studies, along with an MBA.

Graduate study is coordinated through the College of Graduate and Extended Studies, which administers master's degrees, certificate programs and online course options for working professionals. Fine arts and music are among the programs with the deepest regional reputation, supported by dedicated studio, gallery and performance space rather than shared general classrooms.

Campus and Facilities

The campus covers several hundred acres on a largely self-contained site, with academic buildings clustered around a central green and residence halls arranged along the perimeter. Principal buildings include:

• Rohrbach Library, the main research library, with study areas, computing resources, special collections and the university archives.
• The Sharadin Art Building, home to studio facilities for painting, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture, photography and design, along with the Marlin and Regina Miller Gallery, which mounts rotating exhibitions open to the public.
• Schaeffer Auditorium, the university's traditional concert and lecture hall, used for music department recitals, ensemble performances and visiting artists.
• The Academic Forum, a classroom and event building near the center of campus.
• Boehm Science Building and Grim Science Building, housing laboratories for the natural sciences.
• The McFarland Student Union Building, the hub for student organizations, meeting rooms, the campus bookstore and food service.
• The Student Recreation Center and University Field House, which provide fitness equipment, courts, a pool and indoor track space.

Residential housing ranges from traditional first-year halls to suite-style and apartment-style options for upper-level students. Dining is distributed across several venues rather than concentrated in a single hall, with a main dining commons supplemented by retail locations and national brand franchises in the student union and other high-traffic buildings. A campus convenience market serves students looking for groceries, snacks and household items without leaving the grounds.

Athletics and Student Activities

Kutztown competes in NCAA Division II as the Golden Bears and is a member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. The university fields teams in football, men's and women's basketball, soccer, baseball, softball, field hockey, lacrosse, wrestling, swimming, track and field, cross country, volleyball, tennis and golf. Home football games are played at Andre Reed Stadium, named for the Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver who played at Kutztown before his NFL career. Most athletic events are open to the public, and the fall football schedule in particular draws visitors from surrounding towns.

Beyond athletics, the university supports a wide range of student organizations, including Greek letter groups, academic honor societies, cultural and identity-based associations, a student newspaper, a radio station and student television production. Music ensembles, theatre productions and gallery openings create a steady calendar of arts events during the academic year, many of them free or low cost and open to community members.

Location, Access and Visiting

The campus sits just off Route 222 and is reachable from Reading, Allentown, Bethlehem and the Lehigh Valley within a short drive. The borough of Kutztown adjoins the campus, placing restaurants, shops and services within walking distance of the residential areas. Metered and permit parking is available on campus, with visitor lots near the main entrances; visitors attending events or tours should allow time to locate the correct lot, since the campus is large and buildings are spread across multiple quadrants.

The university maintains a wheelchair accessible entrance and a wheelchair accessible parking lot, and disability services are coordinated through a dedicated campus office for students who need academic accommodations, housing adjustments or assistive technology.

Admissions and Community Connections

Kutztown admits first-year, transfer, graduate and non-degree students, and it maintains articulation and dual-admission arrangements with community colleges in the region, including pathways that allow associate degree holders to enter as juniors. Campus tours and open house events are scheduled throughout the year for prospective students and families.

The university also functions as a regional resource outside of the classroom. Its Small Business Development Center provides consulting and training for entrepreneurs and existing business owners in Berks and neighboring counties, and public performances, exhibitions, lectures and athletic contests give area residents reasons to visit the campus. General questions about departments, events, admissions or athletics can be directed to the main university number listed above.