Graduate by Hilton State College

4.2
315 reviews

About

HotelHilton
Graduate by Hilton State College immerses you in local history and Nittany Lion traditions. Just a block from Penn State University, our hotel is the perfect base for exploring Happy Valley, featuring blue and white decor, a Nittany Lion floor lamp, and ice cream wallpaper celebrating Berkey Creamery. Daily Mandatory Destination Charge includes: Premium guest internet access; daily $10 food and beverage credit for use in hotel restaurant; bicycle rentals.

Location

Graduate by Hilton State College
125 South Atherton Street, State College, PA
16801, United States

Hours

Reviews

4.2
315 reviews
5 stars
189
4 stars
69
3 stars
22
2 stars
12
1 star
23

What are people saying?

AI-generated from recent customer reviews

Staff Performance

Many reviews highlighted friendly and helpful staff, particularly mentioning individuals like Chris and Gage for their exceptional service.

Location

The hotel is praised for its prime location near Penn State University, making it convenient for visitors.

Room Condition

While some guests appreciated the unique decor and comfort, others noted issues with cleanliness, outdated facilities, and maintenance problems.

Parking Issues

Several customers expressed dissatisfaction with the parking situation, describing it as tight, dingy, and not worth the fee.

Service Consistency

There were mixed reviews regarding service quality, with some guests experiencing poor customer service and mismanagement during their stay.
  • KK
    Kari Kailamaki
    Dec 19, 2025
    5.0
    Very cozy Hilton property in State College. Friendly staff (smarter too than average hotel staff), good and flexible service. Best hotel in this town. Been staying the here 8 weeks this year so far. If you have Hilton HHonors status they offer 15 bucks F&B credit up to two guests per room.
  • EW
    E W
    Dec 15, 2025
    1.0
    Update: 2 weeks in to it the treadmill in the Gym is still out of order. Really unacceptable for a Hilton branded hotel. Mr Hilton would not be proud. So far, my experience has been positive. The primary downside I have noticed is the confusing state of the parking garage and arrival process. There is little to no clear signage or visual indication at street level to confirm that you have arrived at the correct location, nor are there clear instructions regarding parking, check-in, or where to obtain a parking spot. This made the initial arrival unnecessarily uncertain. That said, the property itself is quite interesting. It has a strong historic character and a distinctive atmosphere, and overall it feels more engaging than other Hilton properties in the area where I have previously stayed. One additional drawback is the in-room beverage setup. There are no coffee makers—only electric kettles for hot water—yet the rooms are stocked with instant coffee and, oddly, no tea at all. This is disappointing, and something I will plan around by bringing my own tea in the future. I also found it unusual that turndown service is available by request only. For a stay of a week or longer, I would generally expect this to be provided on a regular basis, or at least not require a specific request. The assumption that a guest would not want any turndown service during an extended stay feels somewhat impractical. Overall, however, the hotel gives the impression of being somewhat unique—almost a hybrid between a traditional hotel and a residential or dormitory-style property—which may explain some of these differences. I will update this review if there are any changes, responses, or additional insights as my stay continues. Edit: the treadmill in the gym has been out for over a week so that's minus at least a star.
  • PH
    Peter Hance
    Dec 9, 2025
    5.0
    Classy rooms and decor. Parking is tight. Don’t bring a wide vehicle.
  • JD
    Julie Demaree
    Nov 27, 2025
    4.0
    Great location, onsite parking and bar. Comfortable room, bed and linens. Shower had great pressure and nice shampoo/conditioner/soap products. Nostalgic collegiate decor is fun.
  • VR
    Vanessa Reisig
    Nov 24, 2025
    5.0
    Love the character of this hotel! It's a perfect change from cookie-cutter hotels. As with all Graduate hotels, this one is focused on Penn State University with PSU touches throughout the hotel lobby, halls, wall decor and sleeping rooms. Super fun! Close to all things downtown with parking below. I would not recommend large SUVs in the parking garage during a busy time in State College. Gage and Jacob were on point making sure guests were accommodated and satisfied. See you next time!

Frequently Asked Questions About Graduate by Hilton State College

What are the check-in and check-out times at Graduate by Hilton State College?

Check-in time is at 4:00 PM and check-out time is at 11:00 AM.

Does the hotel allow pets, and are there any fees?

Yes, the hotel is pet-friendly and charges $75 per pet per stay, with a maximum of 2 pets allowed.