Franciscan vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Comparable Facts

Compare Franciscan University of Steubenville in Steubenville, OH 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 Franciscan based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 3,976 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Franciscan University of Steubenville is located in Steubenville, OH (Small City setting); Penn State Harrisburg is in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Franciscan University of Steubenville is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Franciscan University of Steubenville 17:1; Penn State Harrisburg 15:1.

Franciscan vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Franciscan 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 Franciscan University of Steubenville than Penn State Harrisburg ($23,086 vs. $23,788).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Franciscan University of Steubenville are 30.9% lower than at Penn State Harrisburg ($10,000 vs. $14,474).
• Franciscan University of Steubenville is 113.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $18,128 more per year; $34,100.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 26.5% higher at Franciscan than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $7,142 more per year; $34,100.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Franciscan University of Steubenville than at Penn State Harrisburg (99% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Franciscan University of Steubenville students is 132.8% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($21,522 vs. $9,245).

Franciscan vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Franciscan 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 Franciscan.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Franciscan University of Steubenville (1230) is 10 points higher than at Penn State Harrisburg (1220).
• Incoming Penn State Harrisburg students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 25 at Franciscan).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Franciscan University of Steubenville 1110/1350; Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Franciscan University of Steubenville 22/29; Penn State Harrisburg 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Franciscan - Test optional; Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Franciscan students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.78) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than Franciscan (58.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 41.7% at Franciscan vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

Franciscan vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Franciscan 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).

• Franciscan University of Steubenville's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than Penn State Harrisburg's (63%).
• Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg earn a median of about $15,500 more per year than Franciscan graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $39,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Franciscan University of Steubenville graduates have a $4,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($22,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Franciscan graduates have an estimated $50 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($227 vs. $277).
• More Franciscan graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.