Fairfield University vs. Penn State Harrisburg

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

Fairfield University Penn State Harrisburg
Location Fairfield, CT Middletown, PA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 6,019 4,572
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #138 #613
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fairfield.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Fairfield University Penn State Harrisburg
Tuition (In State) $53,630 $15,388
Tuition (Out of State) $53,630 $25,854
Room & Board $16,750 $14,978
Avg Net Price $46,065 $22,096
Avg Grant Aid $25,279 $8,882
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 63%

Admission

Fairfield University Penn State Harrisburg
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 13,359 9,925
Admitted 6,971 9,483
Acceptance Rate 52.2% 95.5%
Enrolled % 19.1% 12.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.67 3.48
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very High Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 28/31 24/28
SAT Range 1240/1370 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 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Fairfield University Penn State Harrisburg
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (34%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Business (34%)
  • Engineering (23%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • English and Literature (5%)

Outcomes

Fairfield University Penn State Harrisburg
Graduation Rate 82% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $77,100 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $279 $277

Diversity

Fairfield University Penn State Harrisburg
% Men 41% 60%
% Women 59% 40%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 76% 59%
% Black 2% 11%
% Hispanic 7% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 3%
% International 2% 10%
% Unknown Race 8% 2%

Students

Fairfield University Penn State Harrisburg
% In-State 15% 46%
% Out-of-State 84% 27%

Campus

Fairfield 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

  • Fairfield University is larger than than Penn State Harrisburg based on total student enrollment (6,019 students vs. 4,572 students)

Fairfield University vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

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

  • Fairfield University is 248.5% more expensive to attend than Penn State Harrisburg for in-state tuition ($53,630.00 vs. $15,388.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 107.4% higher at Fairfield University than Penn State Harrisburg ($53,630.00 vs. $25,854.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Harrisburg than Fairfield University ($22,096 vs. $46,065)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 11.8% lower than costs at Fairfield University ($14,978 vs. $16,750)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fairfield University than Penn State Harrisburg (94% vs. 63%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Fairfield University students is 184.6% larger than aid received Penn State Harrisburg ($25,279 vs. $8,882)

Fairfield University vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Fairfield University students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48)
  • Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (95.5%) than Fairfield University (52.2%)

Fairfield University vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Fairfield 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 Fairfield University.

  • The graduation rate at Fairfield University is higher than Penn State Harrisburg (82% vs. 63%)
  • Graduates from Fairfield University earn on average $21,800 more per year than Penn State Harrisburg graduates after ten years. ($77,100 vs. $55,300)
  • Penn State Harrisburg students graduate with a $182 lower median federal student loan debt than Fairfield University graduates. ($26,818 vs. $27,000)
  • Penn State Harrisburg graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Fairfield University graduates. ($277 vs. $279)
  • More Fairfield 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/