Cedar Crest College vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Comparable Facts

Compare Cedar Crest College in Allentown, 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 Cedar Crest College based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 1,290 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cedar Crest College is located in Allentown, PA (Midsize City setting); Penn State Harrisburg is in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Cedar Crest College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cedar Crest College 9:1; Penn State Harrisburg 15:1.

Cedar Crest College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cedar Crest 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 Cedar Crest College than Penn State Harrisburg ($23,691 vs. $23,788).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cedar Crest College are 7.4% lower than at Penn State Harrisburg ($13,406 vs. $14,474).
• Cedar Crest College is 190% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $30,342 more per year; $46,314.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 71.8% higher at Cedar Crest College than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $19,356 more per year; $46,314.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cedar Crest College than at Penn State Harrisburg (99% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cedar Crest College students is 260.4% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($33,323 vs. $9,245).

Cedar Crest College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cedar Crest 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 Cedar Crest College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Harrisburg (1220) is 100 points higher than at Cedar Crest College (1120).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cedar Crest College 1000/1230; Penn 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: Cedar Crest College - Test-free; Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Harrisburg students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at Cedar Crest College (3.42).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than Cedar Crest College (84.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.5% at Cedar Crest College vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

Cedar Crest College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cedar Crest 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 Cedar Crest College's (50%).
• Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg earn a median of about $7,500 more per year than Cedar Crest College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $47,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have a $932 lower median loan debt than Cedar Crest College graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,750).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cedar Crest College graduates ($277 vs. $286).
• More Penn State Harrisburg graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cedar Crest College students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 59%)

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.