Queens College vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Comparable Facts

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

CUNY Queens College is larger than Penn State Harrisburg based on total student enrollment (15,965 students vs. 4,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• CUNY Queens College is located in Queens, NY (Large City setting); Penn State Harrisburg is in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• CUNY Queens 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 Queens College 13:1; Penn State Harrisburg 15:1.

Queens College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Queens 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 CUNY Queens College than Penn State Harrisburg ($5,728 vs. $23,788).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 15.5% lower than at CUNY Queens College ($14,474 vs. $17,132).
• Penn State Harrisburg is 111.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Queens College (about $8,434 more per year; $15,972.00 vs. $7,538.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 74.1% higher at Penn State Harrisburg than at CUNY Queens College (about $11,470 more per year; $26,958.00 vs. $15,488.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Queens College than at Penn State Harrisburg (81% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students is 2.1% larger than aid received by CUNY Queens College students ($9,245 vs. $9,057).

Queens College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Harrisburg (1220) is 70 points higher than at Queens College (1150).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: CUNY Queens College 1010/1290; 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: Queens College - Test optional; Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Harrisburg students have a 0.48 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at Queens College (3.0).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than Queens College (64.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at Queens College vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

Queens College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Queens 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 CUNY Queens College's (53%).
• Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg earn a median of about $4,500 more per year than Queens College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $50,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Queens College graduates have a $15,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($11,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Queens College graduates have an estimated $164 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($113 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Harrisburg graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Queens College students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 56%)

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.