Albright College vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Comparable Facts

Compare Albright College in Reading, PA with Penn State Harrisburg in Middletown, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Harrisburg is larger than Albright College based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 1,380 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Albright College is located in Reading, PA (Small City setting); Penn State Harrisburg is in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Albright College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Albright College 11:1; Penn State Harrisburg 15:1.

Albright College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Albright College or Penn State Harrisburg? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Albright College than Penn State Harrisburg ($20,587 vs. $23,788).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Albright College are 0.3% lower than at Penn State Harrisburg ($14,426 vs. $14,474).
• Albright College is 82.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $13,110 more per year; $29,082.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.9% higher at Albright College than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $2,124 more per year; $29,082.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Albright College than at Penn State Harrisburg (100% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Albright College students is 149.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($23,069 vs. $9,245).

Albright College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Albright College or Penn State Harrisburg? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Penn State Harrisburg and Albright College.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPenn State Harrisburg 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPenn State Harrisburg 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Albright College - Test-free; Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Harrisburg students have a 0.43 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at Albright College (3.05).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than Albright College (76.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.4% at Albright College vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

Albright College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Albright College and Penn State Harrisburg? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Penn State Harrisburg's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Albright College's (60%).
• Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg earn a median of about $5,800 more per year than Albright College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $49,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have a $1,182 lower median loan debt than Albright College graduates ($26,818 vs. $28,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Albright College graduates ($277 vs. $289).
• More Albright College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.