The parties come to an end, and the students are walking home with the late night munchies, passing numerous pizza places with lines halfway down the block.

All around State College, there are pizza shops that stay open late on the weekends to serve students.

Most students said the location, size and cost of a slice of pizza are the most critical factors in choosing a late night snack.

"If it is on the way to where I am going, I am going to stop," Theresa Diehl (senior-geosciences) said.

Megan McCormick (junior-journalism) said the size and cost of the slice is important, but she would choose better pizza over cheaper pizza.

College Pizza, 128 Locust Lane, has been open since 1993 and has always had competition on the weekends.

"Competition is good, and it keeps us on our toes," owner Richard Frasca said.

Students agree with him.

"Competition is good, and it results in better quality [of the pizza],'' Christina Marinakis (sophomore-psychology) said.

Both College Pizza and Canyon Pizza, located within the same block, stay open late on the weekends to serve students on their way to and from parties.

"We get huge waves late at night," said Tony Capaccio, owner of Canyon Pizza, 260 E. Beaver Ave. "The kids have been great and we have gotten a good response from them."

Capaccio said he found owning a pizza place in State College has been a positive experience.

After midnight, the only topping served at Canyon Pizza is pepperoni due to a long line and shortage of time.

Dale Smith, assistant manger of Papa John's Pizza, 2110 N. Atherton St., said downtown pizza places haven't affected his business. On weekend nights, Papa John's get anywhere from 500 to 600 calls, he said.