Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
George Washington Georgetown Penn State Erie-Behrend College Fordham Syracuse Penn State Altoona JMU Mason Lafayette College DU Drexel William & Mary| American University | Penn State Harrisburg | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
AU | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
| Location | Washington, DC | Middletown, PA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 13,885 | 4,572 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #93 | #613 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | american.edu | psu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
AU | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $53,070 | $15,388 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $53,070 | $25,854 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,706 | $14,978 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $41,369 | $22,096 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $27,138 | $8,882 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 66% | 63% |
Admission |
AU | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 19,510 | 9,925 | ||
| Admitted | 7,926 | 9,483 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 40.6% | 95.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22.2% | 12.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.48 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 29/32 | 24/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1290/1430 | 1100/1310 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2025 |
Academics |
AU | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 14:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
AU | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
| Graduation Rate | 77% | 63% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $64,800 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 80% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $277 |
Diversity |
AU | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 37% | 60% | ||
| % Women | 63% | 40% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 58% | 59% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 11% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 3% | ||
| % International | 7% | 10% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 2% |
Students |
AU | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 2% | 46% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 94% | 27% | ||
Campus |
AU | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- American University is larger than than Penn State Harrisburg based on total student enrollment (13,885 students vs. 4,572 students)
AU vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, AU or Penn State Harrisburg?
- American University is 244.9% more expensive to attend than Penn State Harrisburg for in-state tuition ($53,070.00 vs. $15,388.00)
- Out of state tuition is 105.3% higher at AU than Penn State Harrisburg ($53,070.00 vs. $25,854.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Harrisburg than AU ($22,096 vs. $41,369)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 4.9% lower than costs at American University ($14,978 vs. $15,706)
- More students receive financial grant aid at American University than Penn State Harrisburg (66% vs. 63%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 205.5% larger than aid received Penn State Harrisburg ($27,138 vs. $8,882)
AU vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, AU or Penn State Harrisburg? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State Harrisburg or AU .
- The average SAT score at American University (1252) is 209 points higher than at Penn State Harrisburg (1043)
- Incoming AU students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (23)
- Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48)
- Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (95.5%) than AU (40.6%)
AU vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, AU or Penn State Harrisburg? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Penn State Harrisburg and AU.
- The graduation rate at AU is higher than Penn State Harrisburg (77% vs. 63%)
- Graduates from American University earn on average $9,500 more per year than Penn State Harrisburg graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $55,300)
- American University students graduate with a $2,568 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates. ($24,250 vs. $26,818)
- AU graduates are paying $27 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Harrisburg graduates. ($250 vs. $277)
- More AU 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/