Services

WHAT IS A PENN STATE ACCOUNT?

Your Penn State Account is the means by which the University identifies you as an individual and manages your access to protected Penn State resources.  Your account includes the following:

• A User ID (for example: jhs123).  This alpha-numeric ID, or user name, is the ID you’ll use to log in to Penn State computer resources such as lab computers, Penn State’s wireless network, and various Penn state websites and systems to which you have been granted access.
• A PSU ID (for example: 945533519). This nine-digit numeric ID uniquely identifies you to the University, much the way a social security number uniquely identifies an individual to the U.S. government.  You may be asked for your Penn State ID to confirm your identity – for example, before resetting your password or taking an exam.
• Identity Information.  Information that establishes who you are and how you may be contacted.
• Security Information.  Information used to manage and control which computer resources you may access.

WHY DO I NEED A PENN STATE ACCOUNT?

Whether you’re a student, an employee, a research associate, or simply a member of the community, Penn State offers a rich array of online tools and resources designed to help you fulfill your role and reach your goals at the University.

Depending on your relationship with the University, those resources may include:

• The ability to access library services or submit an online application
• The ability to register for sports camp or sign up to volunteer
• Job-related tools such as WorkDay
• Productivity tools such as Office 365 and G Suite
• The ability to log into University-owned computers, VPN, and Wi-Fi
• The ability to register for classes, pay tuition, enter or view grades via LionPath
• Communication and collaboration tools such as email, Box, and Microsoft Teams
• Program-specific software applications such as those of the College of Engineering

YOUR KEY TO ACCESSING ONLINE RESOURCES

Your Penn State account user ID and password are the primary means by which the University is able to confirm your identity when you log in to protected resources such as those listed above.

You must first have a Penn State Account before you can be granted access to any protected resource.
To learn more, see How do I create a Penn State account?

Depending on your affiliation with the University and the systems to which you need access, the University may also require you to confirm your identity via Multifactor Authentication (MFA).
To learn more about MFA, visit https://accounts.psu.edu/mfa.