Gordon College vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Comparable Facts

Compare Gordon College in Wenham, MA 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 Gordon College based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 1,595 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Gordon College is located in Wenham, MA (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Harrisburg is in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Gordon College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Gordon College 10:1; Penn State Harrisburg 15:1.

Gordon College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Gordon College 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 Gordon College ($23,788 vs. $25,299).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gordon College are 8.1% lower than at Penn State Harrisburg ($13,300 vs. $14,474).
• Gordon College is 92.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $14,728 more per year; $30,700.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.9% higher at Gordon College than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $3,742 more per year; $30,700.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gordon College than at Penn State Harrisburg (100% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Gordon College students is 81.7% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($16,802 vs. $9,245).

Gordon College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Gordon College 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 Gordon College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Gordon College (1240) is 20 points higher than at Penn State Harrisburg (1220).
• Incoming Gordon College students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 26 at Penn State Harrisburg).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Gordon College 1130/1355; Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Gordon College 25/31; Penn State Harrisburg 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Gordon College - Test optional; Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Gordon College Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Gordon College students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than Gordon College (69.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at Gordon College vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

Gordon College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Gordon College 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).

• Gordon College's six-year graduation rate (74%) is higher than Penn State Harrisburg's (63%).
• Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg earn a median of about $10,000 more per year than Gordon College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $45,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Gordon College graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Gordon College graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Gordon College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (85% 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.