Haverford College vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Comparable Facts

Compare Haverford College in Haverford, PA 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 Haverford College based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 1,431 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Haverford College is located in Haverford, PA (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Harrisburg is in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Haverford College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Haverford College 8:1; Penn State Harrisburg 15:1.

Haverford College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Haverford 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 Haverford College ($23,788 vs. $26,535).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 26% lower than at Haverford College ($14,474 vs. $19,548).
• Haverford College is 342.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $54,716 more per year; $70,688.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 162.2% higher at Haverford College than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $43,730 more per year; $70,688.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Harrisburg than at Haverford College (63% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Haverford College students is 589.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($63,742 vs. $9,245).

Haverford College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Haverford College (1510) is 290 points higher than at Penn State Harrisburg (1220).
• Incoming Haverford College students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 26 at Penn State Harrisburg).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Haverford College 1460/1550; Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Haverford College 33/35; Penn State Harrisburg 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Haverford College - Test optional; Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Haverford College Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Haverford College students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than Haverford College (12.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 42.6% at Haverford College vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

Haverford College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Haverford 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).

• Haverford College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Penn State Harrisburg's (63%).
• Graduates from Haverford College earn a median of about $13,500 more per year than Penn State Harrisburg graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,800 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Haverford College graduates have a $13,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($13,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Haverford College graduates have an estimated $143 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($134 vs. $277).
• More Haverford College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.