Howard vs. Penn State Abington

Comparable Facts

Compare Howard University in Washington, DC with Penn State Abington in Abington, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Howard University is larger than Penn State Abington based on total student enrollment (14,890 students vs. 2,885 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Howard University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Penn State Abington is in Abington, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Howard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Abington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Howard University 13:1; Penn State Abington 14:1.

Howard vs. Penn State Abington Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Howard or Penn State Abington? 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 Abington than Howard ($19,232 vs. $33,368).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Abington are 16.4% lower than at Howard University ($14,474 vs. $17,322).
• Howard University is 134.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Abington (about $20,542 more per year; $35,810.00 vs. $15,268.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 39.5% higher at Howard than at Penn State Abington (about $10,146 more per year; $35,810.00 vs. $25,664.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Howard University than at Penn State Abington (99% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Howard University students is 115.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Abington students ($21,262 vs. $9,883).

Howard vs. Penn State Abington Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Howard or Penn State Abington? 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 Abington and Howard.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Howard University (1210) is 40 points higher than at Penn State Abington (1170).
• Incoming Howard students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 25) as students at Penn State Abington (25).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Howard University 1090/1320; Penn State Abington 1070/1265.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Howard University 22/28; Penn State Abington 23/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Howard - Test optional; Penn State Abington - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Howard Feb 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Howard students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at Penn State Abington (3.42).
• Penn State Abington has a higher acceptance rate (96.8%) than Howard (41.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.4% at Howard vs. 11.2% at Penn State Abington.

Howard vs. Penn State Abington Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Howard and Penn State Abington? 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).

• Howard University's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Penn State Abington's (44%).
• Graduates from Penn State Abington earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than Howard graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $51,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Abington graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Howard graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Abington graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Howard graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Penn State Abington graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Howard students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 33%)

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.