City College of New York vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Deciding between CUNY City College and Penn State Harrisburg? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

CUNY City College
Penn State Harrisburg

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • City College of New York New York, NY
  • Penn State Harrisburg Middletown, PA
  • Setting
  • City College of New York Large City
  • Penn State Harrisburg Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • City College of New York 15,544
  • Penn State Harrisburg 4,478
  • Type
  • City College of New York Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Harrisburg Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • City College of New York #313
  • Penn State Harrisburg #574
  • Religious Affiliation
  • City College of New York -
  • Penn State Harrisburg -
  • Status
  • City College of New York Non-profit
  • Penn State Harrisburg Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • City College of New York
  • Penn State Harrisburg

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • City College of New York $7,340
  • Penn State Harrisburg $15,972
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • City College of New York $15,290
  • Penn State Harrisburg $26,958
  • Room & Board
  • City College of New York $18,840
  • Penn State Harrisburg $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • City College of New York $4,664
  • Penn State Harrisburg $23,788
  • Average Grant Aid
  • City College of New York $9,763
  • Penn State Harrisburg $9,245
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • City College of New York 88%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 63%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • City College of New York 34,322
  • Penn State Harrisburg 9,316
  • Admitted
  • City College of New York 20,600
  • Penn State Harrisburg 9,092
  • Acceptance Rate
  • City College of New York 60%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 97.6%
  • Enrolled
  • City College of New York 12.3%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 11.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • City College of New York 1250
  • Penn State Harrisburg 1220
  • Typical ACT score
  • City College of New York
  • Penn State Harrisburg 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • City College of New York 3.2
  • Penn State Harrisburg 3.48
  • Typical High School Grades
  • City College of New York B+
  • Penn State Harrisburg B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • City College of New York Very High
  • Penn State Harrisburg Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • City College of New York Low
  • Penn State Harrisburg
  • ACT Range
  • City College of New York
  • Penn State Harrisburg 22/31
  • SAT Range
  • City College of New York 1070/1430
  • Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310
  • Submit Test Scores
  • City College of New York Test optional
  • Penn State Harrisburg Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • City College of New York Feb 1, 2027
  • Penn State Harrisburg

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • City College of New York 15:1
  • Penn State Harrisburg 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • City College of New York
    • Psychology (15%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Penn State Harrisburg
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (23%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • English and Literature (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • City College of New York 40%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • City College of New York $49,800
  • Penn State Harrisburg $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • City College of New York 52%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • City College of New York $11,400
  • Penn State Harrisburg $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • City College of New York $117
  • Penn State Harrisburg $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • City College of New York 47%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 58%
  • % Women
  • City College of New York 53%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 42%
  • Racial Diversity
  • City College of New York Very High
  • Penn State Harrisburg High
  • HBCU
  • City College of New York No
  • Penn State Harrisburg No
  • % White
  • City College of New York 15%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 59%
  • % Asian
  • City College of New York 25%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 9%
  • % Black
  • City College of New York 16%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • City College of New York 35%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 6%
  • % Native American
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • City College of New York 2%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 3%
  • % International
  • City College of New York 6%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • City College of New York 83%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 54%
  • % Out-of-State
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 27%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • City College of New York Yes
  • Penn State Harrisburg Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • City College of New York No
  • Penn State Harrisburg No
  • Meal Plan
  • City College of New York No
  • Penn State Harrisburg Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • City College of New York No
  • Penn State Harrisburg Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • City College of New York Yes
  • Penn State Harrisburg Yes
  • Learn More
  • City College of New York Details
  • Penn State Harrisburg Details

Comparable Facts

Compare CUNY City College in New York, NY with Penn State Harrisburg in Middletown, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

CUNY City College is larger than Penn State Harrisburg based on total student enrollment (15,544 students vs. 4,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • CUNY City College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Penn State Harrisburg is in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • CUNY City College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY City College 15:1; Penn State Harrisburg 15:1.

City College of New York vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City College of New York 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 CUNY City College than Penn State Harrisburg ($4,664 vs. $23,788).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 23.2% lower than at CUNY City College ($14,474 vs. $18,840).
  • Penn State Harrisburg is 117.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $8,632 more per year; $15,972.00 vs. $7,340.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 76.3% higher at Penn State Harrisburg than at CUNY City College (about $11,668 more per year; $26,958.00 vs. $15,290.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY City College than at Penn State Harrisburg (88% vs. 63%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by CUNY City College students is 5.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($9,763 vs. $9,245).

City College of New York vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, City College of New York 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 City College of New York.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at CUNY City College (1250) is 30 points higher than at Penn State Harrisburg (1220).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: CUNY City College 1070/1430; 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: City College of New York - Test optional; Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: City College of New York Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Penn State Harrisburg students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at City College of New York (3.2).
  • Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than City College of New York (60%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at City College of New York vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

City College of New York vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for City College of New York 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 CUNY City College's (40%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg earn a median of about $5,500 more per year than City College of New York graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $49,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY City College graduates have a $15,418 lower median loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($11,400 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, City College of New York graduates have an estimated $160 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($117 vs. $277).
  • More Penn State Harrisburg graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of New York students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 52%)

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.