Useful, but taxing - Resident Assistant Penn State Employee Review

3.0
Nov 30, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Food and housing are provided free of charge! You also receive a small tuition stipend. The culture amongst RAs is very friendly and you form closer bonds than I have in any other job. I had a wonderful coordinator in my second year who has become a friend since graduating (your coordinator will make or break your experience)!

Cons

The job is unpaid. The hours worked and the cost of room and board do not line up and (depending on building) you pay for laundry out of pocket. This can be very frustrating when considering the extreme differences in quality depending on what building you are placed in (access to amenities, air conditioning, privacy, etc.) as there is no difference in compensation between those who are placed in less updated areas and those in renovated areas. Your outside work is limited, so acquiring income while working in this position is extremely challenging. Depending on what area you are placed in, the job can be physically challenging due to a lack of elevators and large buildings.

Explore other reviews about Penn State

5.0
Apr 4, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Benefits- 401K, great Health, Dental ,PTO is great

Cons

none- not a lot that is wrong here. Maybe bigger yearly raises just because of the economy.

1.0
Feb 23, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

- If you stick it out, you'll earn a degree - The teaching within my dept was solid - Typical student benefits (gym, buses, library, etc.) - Occasional travel for conferences

Cons

- Your experience largely depends on your advisor, cohort, and your relationship with them. Some will thrive with hands-on mentorship, some will struggle with absentee advisors. - There is barely any recourse in cases of advisor neglect or abuse. The department will almost never reprimand a professor as long as their group is productive. - Overwork and under pay is the norm, not the exception. Whether explicitly or implicitly, the system is designed to get as much value as possible from the grad students and kick them to the curb when it's done. The career center was largely useless for PhD's and you are far from guaranteed from landing a job even with the degree. Proceed with caution.

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