Atherton Hall

Outside Atherton Hall

Atherton Hall is named after Frances Washburn Atherton, the wife of Penn State's seventh president, George Washington Atherton. Francis helped found what is today the State College Women's Club, which advocated successfully for the advancement in women being educated at Penn State through the establishment of a baccalaureate program in 1906.

Atherton Hall, built in 1939, is a classic traditional residence hall. Home to the Schreyer Honors College, Atherton Hall offers students an abundant amount of study and social spaces, including a recreation room with a kitchen, a computer lab, and music practice rooms. The building offers coed housing, and bedrooms feature flexible furniture that allows students to arrange their room in a number of different ways. While this is a classic traditional hall, the bathrooms have been renovated and offer multiple private, single-user bathrooms located on the floor that are shared by all residents. Atherton Hall is located in South Halls and near the White BuildingHUB-Robeson Center, and is in close proximity to downtown State College.

Redifer Commons supports students living in South Halls.

Building Amenities

Housing Area

South Halls

Building Type

Traditional

Room Types

Single, Double, Triple, Quad

Living Arrangements

First-Year Students, Gender Inclusive (First-Year), Gender Inclusive (Upperclass), Living Learning Community (LLC), Upperclass Students

Population

572

Additional Information

The middle section of second floor of Atherton offers some unique rooms for upper-class students. During the summer 2025, several rooms will be modified with the removal of kitchenette areas, providing additional student living space in the room. Rooms 260, 268, 269, and 275 will be available as a quad (4 students in 1 large room).

Computer Lab
Elevator
Kitchen
Knowledge Station
Laundry
Meeting Room
Music Practice Room
Piano
Quiet/Wellness Lounge
Rec/Game Room
Single User Bathroom
Study Lounge
TV Lounge
Vending
WiFi
South Atherton Halls study lounge

Building Common Areas

The ground and first floor features a living room, recreation room, laundry room, kitchen, and ample study spaces.

South Atherton Halls bathroom

Bathroom Configuration

Each floor offers multiple individual, single-user bathrooms. Each bathroom offers a toilet, shower, and sink. A student can use any vacant bathroom. Additional sinks are located in the hallway.

Room Amenities

Adjustable Height Bed (30-36")
Bulletin Board
Closet
Curtains
Desk
Desk Chair
Dresser
MicroFridge
Moveable Furniture
Trash Can
Vinyl Linoleum Flooring
WiFi
XL Twin Mattress (80")
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Simmons Hall student bedroom

Room & Furnishing Dimensions

Room & Furnishing Dimensions
Item Length Width Height
Single Room      
Double Room 16' 5" 12' 8'
Triple Room      
Quad Room      
Bed 85" 39.5" 4' (adjustable)
Mattress 80" 36" 8"
Desk 3' 8" 2' 6' 6"
Dresser* 1' 6" 1' 9" 3' 8"
Refrigerator/Microwave 1' 6" 1' 7" 44"
Closet 1' 8" 4' 2" 7' 6"
Door - 2' 8" 6' 7"
Window - 4' 2" 4' 10"
Chairs 1' 7" 1' 6" 2' 6"

*inside the closet

Recommended rug size: double room 10' x 12' or single room 9' x 12'

Measurements are approximate. The dimensions, furnishings and color of rooms may vary in appearance. All closets have curtains.

Room Decoration Guidelines

Students interested in hanging decorations in this hall should use this recommended material: wall-safe tape, poster putty, and painter's tapeNO stick-on, removable wallpaper.  NO furniture modifications; nothing screwed or nailed into furniture.

students chatting in room

Room Types

Atherton Hall offers double-, triple-, and quad-occupancy rooms.

Housing Room Rates

Housing and food charges are posted to the student's LionPATH account at the beginning of summer (if applicable), fall, and spring semesters. The Office of the Bursar manages billing statements and processing payments.

Rates for 2025-26
Residence Hall Room Type Occupancy Fall Spring
Atherton Hall Double 2 $4,039 $4,039
Atherton Hall Single 1 $5,246 $5,246
Atherton Hall Suite 2 $4,778 $4,778
Atherton Hall Triple 3 $3,638 $3,638
Atherton Hall Triple with bath 3 $3,921 $3,921
Rates for 2024-25
Residence Hall Room Type Occupancy Fall Spring
Atherton Hall 2-Bedroom/4-Person 4 $4,639 $4,639
Atherton Hall Double 2 $3,921 $3,921
Atherton Hall Single 1 $5,093 $5,093
Atherton Hall Triple 3 $3,532 $3,532
Atherton Hall Triple with bath 3 $3,921 $3,921

Building Floor Plans

To view building floor plans, you must log in with your Penn State Access Account and password.

Living Learning Communities

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Group of students posing on stairs for photo

LIBERAL ARTS PATERNO FELLOWS HOUSE

First-year students in the College of the Liberal Arts who are intending to become Paterno Fellows may select this LLC, where residents are committed to aspiring to the signature honors and leadership program. This program is offered in cooperation with the Schreyer Honors College. Students will enroll in suitable honors courses during their first year, seek academic excellence, and participate in the program's other offerings. Residents will enjoy cocurricular and extracurricular opportunities associated with the Paterno Fellows Program, as well as in-house offerings and mentoring activities that contribute to their social and academic success.

  • Open to all first-year students in the College of the Liberal Arts who are self-selecting as Paterno Fellows aspirants. Students enrolled in the Division of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) with a serious interest in Liberal Arts and with a commitment of taking three to four honors courses in their first year at Penn State may also request this LLC with permission of program staff (email for permission).
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4 students sitting on rocks

Schreyer Honors College Living & Learning Environment

Located in close proximity to the administrative offices of Schreyer Honors College, this LLC supports Schreyer Scholars, providing them with a number of opportunities to participate in academic and social activities. All residents, whether or not they are Schreyer Scholars, have access to the computer labs and music practice rooms located in these residence halls. A $25.00 living-learning fee is charged each semester to all residents on their student account.

  • Any student may request to live in this scholarly residential environment, but priority is given to first-year and returning Schreyer Scholars

View 360 Room Tour

Discover your future home with this 360-degree photo of a single- or double-occupancy residence hall room designed for residents.

Picture Gallery

Atherton Hall

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Atherton Hall Common Area Space

Atherton Hall features an abundance of study and social spaces, including a recreation room with a kitchen, a computer lab, and music practice rooms.

Laundry

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Bathrooms

Each floor offers multiple individual, single-user bathrooms. Each bathroom offers a toilet, shower, and sink. A student can use any vacant bathroom. Additional sinks are located in the hallway.

Anchor Destination

Single Room

A limited number of single rooms are available.

Double Room

The majority of rooms are double-occupancy rooms.

Triple Room

A triple room houses three students in a larger room. A limited number of triple-occupancy rooms are available. 

Quad Room

A quad room houses four students in a larger room. A limited number of quad-occupancy rooms are available.