Bryn Mawr vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Comparable Facts

Compare Bryn Mawr College in Bryn Mawr, 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 Bryn Mawr based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 1,679 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Bryn Mawr vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bryn Mawr 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 Bryn Mawr ($23,788 vs. $33,221).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 25.4% lower than at Bryn Mawr College ($14,474 vs. $19,400).
• Bryn Mawr College is 312.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $49,948 more per year; $65,920.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 144.5% higher at Bryn Mawr than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $38,962 more per year; $65,920.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bryn Mawr College than at Penn State Harrisburg (72% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bryn Mawr College students is 441.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($50,029 vs. $9,245).

Bryn Mawr vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bryn Mawr 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 Bryn Mawr.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bryn Mawr College (1400) is 180 points higher than at Penn State Harrisburg (1220).
• Incoming Bryn Mawr students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 26 at Penn State Harrisburg).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bryn Mawr College 1280/1510; Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bryn Mawr College 29/33; Penn State Harrisburg 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bryn Mawr - Test optional; Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Bryn Mawr Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Bryn Mawr students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.85) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than Bryn Mawr (29.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.5% at Bryn Mawr vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

Bryn Mawr vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bryn Mawr 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).

• Bryn Mawr College's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Penn State Harrisburg's (63%).
• Graduates from Bryn Mawr College earn a median of about $6,200 more per year than Penn State Harrisburg graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,500 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bryn Mawr College graduates have a $818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Bryn Mawr graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($268 vs. $277).
• More Bryn Mawr graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (79% 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.