EC vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Comparable Facts

Compare Elmira College in Elmira, NY 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 EC based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 786 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

EC vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, EC 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 Elmira College than Penn State Harrisburg ($23,682 vs. $23,788).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 0.5% lower than at Elmira College ($14,474 vs. $14,550).
• Elmira College is 144% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $23,004 more per year; $38,976.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 44.6% higher at EC than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $12,018 more per year; $38,976.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Elmira College than at Penn State Harrisburg (100% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Elmira College students is 211.3% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($28,780 vs. $9,245).

EC vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, EC 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 EC.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Elmira College (1240) is 20 points higher than at Penn State Harrisburg (1220).
• Incoming EC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 26 at Penn State Harrisburg).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elmira College 1090/1385; Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elmira College 26/29; Penn State Harrisburg 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: EC - Test optional; Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Harrisburg students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at EC (3.22).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than EC (77%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at EC vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

EC vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for EC 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 Elmira College's (60%).
• Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg earn a median of about $9,300 more per year than EC graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $46,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than EC graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than EC graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More EC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (72% 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.