Elms College vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Comparable Facts

Compare College of Our Lady of the Elms in Chicopee, MA 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 Elms College based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 1,268 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of Our Lady of the Elms is located in Chicopee, MA (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Harrisburg is in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• College of Our Lady of the Elms is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Our Lady of the Elms 11:1; Penn State Harrisburg 15:1.

Elms College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elms 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 College of Our Lady of the Elms than Penn State Harrisburg ($19,870 vs. $23,788).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 7.2% lower than at College of Our Lady of the Elms ($14,474 vs. $15,605).
• College of Our Lady of the Elms is 171.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $27,353 more per year; $43,325.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 60.7% higher at Elms College than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $16,367 more per year; $43,325.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of Our Lady of the Elms than at Penn State Harrisburg (100% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of Our Lady of the Elms students is 265.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($33,794 vs. $9,245).

Elms College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at College of Our Lady of the Elms (1240) is 20 points higher than at Penn State Harrisburg (1220).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: College of Our Lady of the Elms 1150/1320; 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: Elms College - Test optional; 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 Elms College (3.42).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than Elms College (85.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.9% at Elms College vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

Elms College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Elms 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 College of Our Lady of the Elms's (58%).
• Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg earn a median of about $9,000 more per year than Elms College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $46,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of Our Lady of the Elms graduates have a $1,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Elms College graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($258 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Harrisburg graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Elms College students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 61%)

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.