Hobart William Smith Colleges vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Comparable Facts

Compare Hobart William Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY 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 Hobart William Smith Colleges based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 1,841 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Hobart William Smith Colleges is located in Geneva, NY (Distant Town setting); Penn State Harrisburg is in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Hobart William Smith Colleges is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Hobart William Smith Colleges 11:1; Penn State Harrisburg 15:1.

Hobart William Smith Colleges vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hobart William Smith Colleges 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 Hobart William Smith Colleges ($23,788 vs. $34,170).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 18.5% lower than at Hobart William Smith Colleges ($14,474 vs. $17,768).
• Hobart William Smith Colleges is 307.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $49,145 more per year; $65,117.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 141.5% higher at Hobart William Smith Colleges than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $38,159 more per year; $65,117.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hobart William Smith Colleges than at Penn State Harrisburg (100% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Hobart William Smith Colleges students is 423.9% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($48,432 vs. $9,245).

Hobart William Smith Colleges vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Hobart William Smith Colleges 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 Hobart William Smith Colleges.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Hobart William Smith Colleges (1290) is 70 points higher than at Penn State Harrisburg (1220).
• Incoming Hobart William Smith Colleges students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 26 at Penn State Harrisburg).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Hobart William Smith Colleges 1190/1385; Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Hobart William Smith Colleges 28/32; Penn State Harrisburg 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Hobart William Smith Colleges - Test optional; Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Hobart William Smith Colleges Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Hobart William Smith Colleges students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than Hobart William Smith Colleges (64%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.6% at Hobart William Smith Colleges vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

Hobart William Smith Colleges vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hobart William Smith Colleges 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).

• Hobart William Smith Colleges's six-year graduation rate (75%) is higher than Penn State Harrisburg's (63%).
• Graduates from Hobart William Smith Colleges earn a median of about $4,900 more per year than Penn State Harrisburg graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,200 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Hobart William Smith Colleges graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Hobart William Smith Colleges graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Hobart William Smith Colleges graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.