FDU vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Comparable Facts

Compare Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus in Madison, NJ 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 FDU based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 2,885 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus is located in Madison, NJ (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Harrisburg is in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus 11:1; Penn State Harrisburg 15:1.

FDU vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, FDU 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 FDU ($23,788 vs. $25,585).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 11% lower than at Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus ($14,474 vs. $16,270).
• Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus is 137.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $22,032 more per year; $38,004.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 41% higher at FDU than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $11,046 more per year; $38,004.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus than at Penn State Harrisburg (100% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus students is 206% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($28,294 vs. $9,245).

FDU vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, FDU 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 FDU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Harrisburg (1220) is 40 points higher than at FDU (1180).
• Incoming Penn State Harrisburg students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 24 at FDU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus 1040/1310; Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus 19/30; Penn State Harrisburg 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: FDU - Test optional; Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Harrisburg students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at FDU (3.42).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than FDU (95.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.5% at FDU vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

FDU vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for FDU 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 Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus's (55%).
• Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg earn a median of about $2,400 more per year than FDU graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $52,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus graduates have a $818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, FDU graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($268 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Harrisburg graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FDU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 60%)

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.