Duquesne University vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Should I go to Duquesne University or Penn State Harrisburg? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Duquesne University 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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Duquesne University vs. Penn State Harrisburg comparison
Duquesne University Penn State Harrisburg College 3 College 4
Duquesne University Penn State Harrisburg
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Overview

Duquesne University Penn State Harrisburg
Location Pittsburgh, PA Middletown, PA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 8,107 4,572
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #212 #613
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website duq.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Duquesne University Penn State Harrisburg
Tuition (In State) $45,376 $15,388
Tuition (Out of State) $45,376 $25,854
Room & Board $14,744 $14,978
Avg Net Price $33,919 $22,096
Avg Grant Aid $26,800 $8,882
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 63%

Admission

Duquesne University Penn State Harrisburg
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,376 9,925
Admitted 10,828 9,483
Acceptance Rate 87.5% 95.5%
Enrolled % 13.3% 12.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.8 3.48
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 25/31 24/28
SAT Range 1160/1330 1100/1310
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 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Duquesne University Penn State Harrisburg
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (31%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Business (34%)
  • Engineering (23%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • English and Literature (5%)

Outcomes

Duquesne University Penn State Harrisburg
Graduation Rate 73% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $65,100 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $279 $277

Diversity

Duquesne University Penn State Harrisburg
% Men 36% 60%
% Women 64% 40%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU No No
% White 81% 59%
% Black 5% 11%
% Hispanic 3% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 4% 10%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

Duquesne University Penn State Harrisburg
% In-State 74% 46%
% Out-of-State 24% 27%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Duquesne University is larger than than Penn State Harrisburg based on total student enrollment (8,107 students vs. 4,572 students)

Duquesne University vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Duquesne University or Penn State Harrisburg?

  • Duquesne University is 194.9% more expensive to attend than Penn State Harrisburg for in-state tuition ($45,376.00 vs. $15,388.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 75.5% higher at Duquesne University than Penn State Harrisburg ($45,376.00 vs. $25,854.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Harrisburg than Duquesne University ($22,096 vs. $33,919)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Duquesne University are 1.6% lower than costs at Penn State Harrisburg ($14,744 vs. $14,978)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Duquesne University than Penn State Harrisburg (95% vs. 63%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Duquesne University students is 201.7% larger than aid received Penn State Harrisburg ($26,800 vs. $8,882)

Duquesne University vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Duquesne University 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 Duquesne University .

  • The average SAT score at Duquesne University (1138) is 95 points higher than at Penn State Harrisburg (1043)
  • Incoming Duquesne University students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (23)
  • Accepted freshman Duquesne University students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48)
  • Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (95.5%) than Duquesne University (87.5%)

Duquesne University vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Duquesne University 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 Duquesne University.

  • The graduation rate at Duquesne University is higher than Penn State Harrisburg (73% vs. 63%)
  • Graduates from Duquesne University earn on average $9,800 more per year than Penn State Harrisburg graduates after ten years. ($65,100 vs. $55,300)
  • Penn State Harrisburg students graduate with a $182 lower median federal student loan debt than Duquesne University graduates. ($26,818 vs. $27,000)
  • Penn State Harrisburg graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Duquesne University graduates. ($277 vs. $279)
  • More Duquesne University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 69%)

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