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Penn State Erie-Behrend College BU NYU Fordham Syracuse Penn State Altoona JMU Penn State Northeastern Emmanuel College Bentley Penn State York| Emerson College | Penn State Harrisburg | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Emerson | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
| Location | Boston, MA | Middletown, PA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 5,670 | 4,651 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #215 | #595 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | emerson.edu | psu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Emerson | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $54,400 | $15,388 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $54,400 | $26,112 | ||
| Room & Board | $20,310 | $15,870 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $50,703 | $22,406 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $26,447 | $8,421 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 78% | 54% |
Admission |
Emerson | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 11,092 | 10,296 | ||
| Admitted | 5,267 | 9,924 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 47.5% | 96.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.9% | 12.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.73 | 3.48 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 30/33 | 26/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1250/1410 | 1110/1320 | ||
| 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 | Feb 20, 2026 |
Academics |
Emerson | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Emerson | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
| Graduation Rate | 81% | 63% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $49,200 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 80% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,500 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $242 | $277 |
Diversity |
Emerson | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 5% | ||
| % Women | 23% | 6% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 67% | 59% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 11% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 3% | ||
| % International | 7% | 10% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 2% |
Students |
Emerson | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 15% | 46% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 68% | 27% | ||
Campus |
Emerson | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Emerson College is larger than than Penn State Harrisburg based on total student enrollment (5,670 students vs. 4,651 students)
Emerson vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Emerson or Penn State Harrisburg?
- Emerson College is 253.5% more expensive to attend than Penn State Harrisburg for in-state tuition ($54,400.00 vs. $15,388.00)
- Out of state tuition is 108.3% higher at Emerson than Penn State Harrisburg ($54,400.00 vs. $26,112.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Harrisburg than Emerson ($22,406 vs. $50,703)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 28% lower than costs at Emerson College ($15,870 vs. $20,310)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Emerson College than Penn State Harrisburg (78% vs. 54%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Emerson College students is 214.1% larger than aid received Penn State Harrisburg ($26,447 vs. $8,421)
Emerson vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Emerson 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 Emerson .
- The average SAT score at Emerson College (1211) is 168 points higher than at Penn State Harrisburg (1043)
- Incoming Emerson students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (23)
- Accepted freshman Emerson students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48)
- Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (96.4%) than Emerson (47.5%)
Emerson vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Emerson 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 Emerson.
- The graduation rate at Emerson is higher than Penn State Harrisburg (81% vs. 63%)
- Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg earn on average $6,100 more per year than Emerson graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $49,200)
- Emerson College students graduate with a $3,318 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates. ($23,500 vs. $26,818)
- Emerson graduates are paying $35 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Harrisburg graduates. ($242 vs. $277)
- More Emerson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/