Dickinson College vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Comparable Facts

Compare Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA 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 Dickinson College based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 2,314 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Dickinson College is located in Carlisle, PA (Distant Town setting); Penn State Harrisburg is in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Dickinson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Dickinson College 11:1; Penn State Harrisburg 15:1.

Dickinson College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dickinson 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 Penn State Harrisburg than Dickinson College ($23,788 vs. $38,483).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 15.4% lower than at Dickinson College ($14,474 vs. $17,100).
• Dickinson College is 311% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $49,678 more per year; $65,650.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 143.5% higher at Dickinson College than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $38,692 more per year; $65,650.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dickinson College than at Penn State Harrisburg (96% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dickinson College students is 381.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($44,479 vs. $9,245).

Dickinson College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Dickinson College (1390) is 170 points higher than at Penn State Harrisburg (1220).
• Incoming Dickinson College students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 26 at Penn State Harrisburg).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dickinson College 1310/1460; Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dickinson College 30/33; Penn State Harrisburg 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dickinson College - Test optional; Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dickinson College Jan 15, 2027.
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than Dickinson College (42.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at Dickinson College vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

Dickinson College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dickinson 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).

• Dickinson College's six-year graduation rate (84%) is higher than Penn State Harrisburg's (63%).
• Graduates from Dickinson College earn a median of about $6,700 more per year than Penn State Harrisburg graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,000 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dickinson College graduates have a $5,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($21,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Dickinson College graduates have an estimated $60 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($217 vs. $277).
• More Dickinson College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 69%)

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.