Howard vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Comparable Facts

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

Howard University is larger than Penn State Harrisburg based on total student enrollment (14,890 students vs. 4,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Howard University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Penn State Harrisburg is in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Howard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Howard University 13:1; Penn State Harrisburg 15:1.

Howard vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Howard 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 Howard ($23,788 vs. $33,368).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 16.4% lower than at Howard University ($14,474 vs. $17,322).
• Howard University is 124.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $19,838 more per year; $35,810.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 32.8% higher at Howard than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $8,852 more per year; $35,810.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Howard University than at Penn State Harrisburg (99% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Howard University students is 130% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($21,262 vs. $9,245).

Howard vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Howard 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 Howard.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Harrisburg (1220) is 10 points higher than at Howard (1210).
• Incoming Penn State Harrisburg students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 25 at Howard).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Howard University 1090/1320; Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Howard University 22/28; Penn State Harrisburg 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Howard - Test optional; Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Howard Feb 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Howard students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than Howard (41.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.4% at Howard vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

Howard vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Howard 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).

• The graduation rate at Howard is the same as at Penn State Harrisburg (63% vs. 63%).
• Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg 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 Harrisburg graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Howard graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Howard graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Penn State Harrisburg 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.