Atherton Hall

Atherton Hall, built in 1939, is home to the Schreyer Honors College. While this is a traditional, co-ed building, the bathrooms have been renovated, offering students private, single-user bathrooms that are shared by the floor. Similar to a home, each bathroom is privately used by one individual. Additional sinks are located near the bathrooms to provide quick, easy use. Atherton also offers students an abundant amount of study and social spaces, including a rec room with a kitchen, a computer lab, and music practice rooms. Atherton is located in close proximity to downtown, the White Building, and the HUB.

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A tidy dorm room with wooden furniture and hanging clothes.

Take a Virtual Room Tour

Discover your future home with this 360-degree photo of the residence hall room designed for residents. Explore the space, plan your college life, and find answers to your housing questions. We look forward to welcoming you to campus and starting your college journey!

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

557

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).

Building Amenities

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

 

 

Room Furnishings

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")

Room Decoration Guidelines

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

Room Diagrams

Room diagrams are artistic renderings of representative rooms and may not reflect actual furniture or finishes.

Room & Furnishing Dimensions

Room & Furnishing Dimensions
Item Length Width Height
Room 16' 5" 12' 8'
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.

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 Living Learning Community supports Schreyer Scholars, providing them with a number of opportunities to participate in academic and social activities. Over 65 percent of the residents of Atherton and Simmons are Schreyer Scholars, and all residents 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.
  • Premedical-Medical (PMM) students are not considered a Schreyer student, and may only be assigned to this living environment if space is available.

Room and Board Rates

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

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