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Villanova BC Penn State Erie-Behrend College Providence Fordham Trinity College Fairfield University Penn State Altoona JMU Union College Colgate Lafayette College| College of the Holy Cross | Penn State Harrisburg | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Holy Cross | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
| Location | Worcester, MA | Middletown, PA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 3,035 | 4,651 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #81 | #595 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Roman Catholic | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | holycross.edu | psu.edu | ||
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Costs |
Holy Cross | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $60,050 | $15,388 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $60,050 | $26,112 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,750 | $15,870 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $35,455 | $22,406 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $41,140 | $8,421 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 58% | 54% |
Admission |
Holy Cross | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
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| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 8,670 | 10,296 | ||
| Admitted | 1,829 | 9,924 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 21.1% | 96.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 45% | 12.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | 3.48 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | |||
| ACT Range | 28/32 | 26/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1250/1420 | 1110/1320 | ||
| 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, 2026 |
Academics |
Holy Cross | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Holy Cross | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
| Graduation Rate | 91% | 63% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $80,400 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 87% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,500 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $284 | $277 |
Diversity |
Holy Cross | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 0% | 5% | ||
| % Women | 0% | 6% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 70% | 59% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 11% | ||
| % Hispanic | 10% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 10% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 2% |
Students |
Holy Cross | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
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| % In-State | 35% | 46% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 61% | 27% | ||
Campus |
Holy Cross | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Penn State Harrisburg is larger than than Holy Cross based on total student enrollment (4,651 students vs. 3,035 students)
Holy Cross vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Holy Cross or Penn State Harrisburg?
- College of the Holy Cross is 290.2% more expensive to attend than Penn State Harrisburg for in-state tuition ($60,050.00 vs. $15,388.00)
- Out of state tuition is 130% higher at Holy Cross than Penn State Harrisburg ($60,050.00 vs. $26,112.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Harrisburg than Holy Cross ($22,406 vs. $35,455)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 11.8% lower than costs at College of the Holy Cross ($15,870 vs. $17,750)
- More students receive financial grant aid at College of the Holy Cross than Penn State Harrisburg (58% vs. 54%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Holy Cross students is 388.5% larger than aid received Penn State Harrisburg ($41,140 vs. $8,421)
Holy Cross vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Holy Cross 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 Holy Cross .
- Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (96.4%) than Holy Cross (21.1%)
Holy Cross vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Holy Cross 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 Holy Cross.
- The graduation rate at Holy Cross is higher than Penn State Harrisburg (91% vs. 63%)
- Graduates from College of the Holy Cross earn on average $25,100 more per year than Penn State Harrisburg graduates after ten years. ($80,400 vs. $55,300)
- Penn State Harrisburg students graduate with a $682 lower median federal student loan debt than Holy Cross graduates. ($26,818 vs. $27,500)
- Penn State Harrisburg graduates are paying $7 less per month on federal student loans than Holy Cross graduates. ($277 vs. $284)
- More Holy Cross graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/