Connecticut College vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Should I go to Connecticut College or Penn State Harrisburg? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Connecticut College or Penn State Harrisburg is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Connecticut College vs. Penn State Harrisburg comparison
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Connecticut College Penn State Harrisburg
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Overview

Connecticut College Penn State Harrisburg
Location New London, CT Middletown, PA
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,995 4,651
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #75 #595
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website connecticutcollege.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Connecticut College Penn State Harrisburg
Tuition (In State) $64,412 $15,388
Tuition (Out of State) $64,412 $26,112
Room & Board $17,885 $15,870
Avg Net Price $42,941 $22,406
Avg Grant Aid $39,354 $8,421
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 54%

Admission

Connecticut College Penn State Harrisburg
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,397 10,296
Admitted 3,597 9,924
Acceptance Rate 38.3% 96.4%
Enrolled % 15.4% 12.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.48
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Difficult
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 31/33 26/30
SAT Range 1340/1470 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 1, 2026

Academics

Connecticut College Penn State Harrisburg
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (33%)
  • Biology (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Ethnic Studies (6%)
  • Business (34%)
  • Engineering (23%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • English and Literature (5%)

Outcomes

Connecticut College Penn State Harrisburg
Graduation Rate 84% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $60,700 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 90% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,550 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $243 $277

Diversity

Connecticut College Penn State Harrisburg
% Men 1% 5%
% Women 1% 6%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 71% 59%
% Black 4% 11%
% Hispanic 9% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 6% 10%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

Connecticut College Penn State Harrisburg
% In-State 12% 46%
% Out-of-State 83% 27%

Campus

Connecticut College Penn State Harrisburg
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Penn State Harrisburg is larger than than Connecticut College based on total student enrollment (4,651 students vs. 1,995 students)

Connecticut College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Connecticut College or Penn State Harrisburg?

  • Connecticut College is 318.6% more expensive to attend than Penn State Harrisburg for in-state tuition ($64,412.00 vs. $15,388.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 146.7% higher at Connecticut College than Penn State Harrisburg ($64,412.00 vs. $26,112.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Harrisburg than Connecticut College ($22,406 vs. $42,941)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 12.7% lower than costs at Connecticut College ($15,870 vs. $17,885)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Connecticut College than Penn State Harrisburg (100% vs. 54%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Connecticut College students is 367.3% larger than aid received Penn State Harrisburg ($39,354 vs. $8,421)

Connecticut College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Connecticut College 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 (96.4%) than Connecticut College (38.3%)

Connecticut College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Connecticut College 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 Connecticut College.

  • The graduation rate at Connecticut College is higher than Penn State Harrisburg (84% vs. 63%)
  • Graduates from Connecticut College earn on average $5,400 more per year than Penn State Harrisburg graduates after ten years. ($60,700 vs. $55,300)
  • Connecticut College students graduate with a $3,268 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates. ($23,550 vs. $26,818)
  • Connecticut College graduates are paying $34 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Harrisburg graduates. ($243 vs. $277)
  • More Connecticut College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/