Allegheny College vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Comparable Facts

Compare Allegheny College in Meadville, 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 Allegheny College based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 1,171 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Allegheny College is located in Meadville, PA (Distant Town setting); Penn State Harrisburg is in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Allegheny College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Allegheny College 8:1; Penn State Harrisburg 15:1.

Allegheny College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Allegheny 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 Penn State Harrisburg than Allegheny College ($23,788 vs. $26,420).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Allegheny College are 2.6% lower than at Penn State Harrisburg ($14,100 vs. $14,474).
• Allegheny College is 254.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $40,578 more per year; $56,550.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 109.8% higher at Allegheny College than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $29,592 more per year; $56,550.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Allegheny College than at Penn State Harrisburg (100% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Allegheny College students is 386.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($44,987 vs. $9,245).

Allegheny College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Allegheny 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 Allegheny College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Allegheny College (1270) is 50 points higher than at Penn State Harrisburg (1220).
• Incoming Allegheny College students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 26 at Penn State Harrisburg).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Allegheny College 1173/1358; Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Allegheny College 25/30; Penn State Harrisburg 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Allegheny College - Test optional; Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Allegheny College Feb 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Allegheny College students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than Allegheny College (54.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.4% at Allegheny College vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

Allegheny College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Allegheny 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).

• Allegheny College's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than Penn State Harrisburg's (63%).
• Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg earn a median of about $100 more per year than Allegheny College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $55,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have a $2,182 lower median loan debt than Allegheny College graduates ($26,818 vs. $29,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Allegheny College graduates ($277 vs. $299).
• More Allegheny College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (80% 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.