Guilford College vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Comparable Facts

Compare Guilford College in Greensboro, NC 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 Guilford College based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 1,180 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Guilford College is located in Greensboro, NC (Large City setting); Penn State Harrisburg is in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Guilford College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Guilford College 12:1; Penn State Harrisburg 15:1.

Guilford College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Guilford 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 Guilford College than Penn State Harrisburg ($22,270 vs. $23,788).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Guilford College are 7.4% lower than at Penn State Harrisburg ($13,400 vs. $14,474).
• Guilford College is 159% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $25,390 more per year; $41,362.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 53.4% higher at Guilford College than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $14,404 more per year; $41,362.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Guilford College than at Penn State Harrisburg (100% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Guilford College students is 261.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($33,419 vs. $9,245).

Guilford College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Harrisburg (1220) is 30 points higher than at Guilford College (1190).
• Incoming Penn State Harrisburg students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 21 at Guilford College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Guilford College 1120/1260; Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Guilford College 18/24; Penn State Harrisburg 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Guilford College - Test optional; Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Harrisburg students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at Guilford College (3.14).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than Guilford College (80%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.1% at Guilford College vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

Guilford College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Guilford 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).

• Penn State Harrisburg's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Guilford College's (60%).
• Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg earn a median of about $15,000 more per year than Guilford College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $40,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Guilford College graduates have a $183 lower median loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($26,635 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Guilford College graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($275 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Harrisburg graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Guilford College students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 51%)

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.