Iona University vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Deciding between Iona University and Penn State Harrisburg? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Iona University
Penn State Harrisburg

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Iona University New Rochelle, NY
  • Penn State Harrisburg Middletown, PA
  • Setting
  • Iona University Large Suburban
  • Penn State Harrisburg Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Iona University 3,958
  • Penn State Harrisburg 4,478
  • Type
  • Iona University Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Harrisburg Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Iona University #456
  • Penn State Harrisburg #574
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Iona University Roman Catholic
  • Penn State Harrisburg -
  • Status
  • Iona University Non-profit
  • Penn State Harrisburg Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Iona University
  • Penn State Harrisburg
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Iona University $47,260
  • Penn State Harrisburg $15,972
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Iona University $47,260
  • Penn State Harrisburg $26,958
  • Room & Board
  • Iona University $18,820
  • Penn State Harrisburg $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Iona University $29,978
  • Penn State Harrisburg $23,788
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Iona University $30,780
  • Penn State Harrisburg $9,245
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Iona University 100%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 63%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Iona University 8,479
  • Penn State Harrisburg 9,316
  • Admitted
  • Iona University 7,372
  • Penn State Harrisburg 9,092
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Iona University 86.9%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 97.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Iona University 12.9%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 11.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Iona University 1210
  • Penn State Harrisburg 1220
  • Typical ACT score
  • Iona University 26
  • Penn State Harrisburg 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Iona University 3.4
  • Penn State Harrisburg 3.48
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Iona University B+
  • Penn State Harrisburg B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Iona University Challenging
  • Penn State Harrisburg Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Iona University
  • Penn State Harrisburg
  • ACT Range
  • Iona University 24/29
  • Penn State Harrisburg 22/31
  • SAT Range
  • Iona University 1110/1300
  • Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Iona University Test optional
  • Penn State Harrisburg Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Iona University Feb 15, 2027
  • Penn State Harrisburg
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Iona University 16:1
  • Penn State Harrisburg 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Iona University
    • Business (37%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Penn State Harrisburg
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (23%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • English and Literature (5%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Iona University 57%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Iona University $58,400
  • Penn State Harrisburg $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Iona University 73%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Iona University $26,047
  • Penn State Harrisburg $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Iona University $269
  • Penn State Harrisburg $277
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Iona University 44%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 58%
  • % Women
  • Iona University 56%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 42%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Iona University Medium
  • Penn State Harrisburg High
  • HBCU
  • Iona University No
  • Penn State Harrisburg No
  • % White
  • Iona University 58%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 59%
  • % Asian
  • Iona University 2%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 9%
  • % Black
  • Iona University 8%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Iona University 22%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 6%
  • % Native American
  • Iona University 0%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Iona University 0%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Iona University 2%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 3%
  • % International
  • Iona University 3%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Iona University 5%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Iona University 79%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 54%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Iona University 20%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 27%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Iona University Yes
  • Penn State Harrisburg Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Iona University No
  • Penn State Harrisburg No
  • Meal Plan
  • Iona University Yes
  • Penn State Harrisburg Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Iona University Yes
  • Penn State Harrisburg Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Iona University No
  • Penn State Harrisburg Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Iona University in New Rochelle, 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 Iona University based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 3,958 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Iona University is located in New Rochelle, NY (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Harrisburg is in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Iona University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Iona University 16:1; Penn State Harrisburg 15:1.

Iona University vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Iona University 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 Iona University ($23,788 vs. $29,978).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 23.1% lower than at Iona University ($14,474 vs. $18,820).
  • Iona University is 195.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $31,288 more per year; $47,260.00 vs. $15,972.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 75.3% higher at Iona University than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $20,302 more per year; $47,260.00 vs. $26,958.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Iona University than at Penn State Harrisburg (100% vs. 63%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Iona University students is 232.9% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($30,780 vs. $9,245).

Iona University vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Iona University 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 Iona University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Harrisburg (1220) is 10 points higher than at Iona University (1210).
  • Incoming Iona University students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 26) as students at Penn State Harrisburg (26).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Iona University 1110/1300; Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Iona University 24/29; Penn State Harrisburg 22/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Iona University - Test optional; Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Iona University Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Penn State Harrisburg students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at Iona University (3.4).
  • Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than Iona University (86.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.9% at Iona University vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

Iona University vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Iona University 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 Iona University's (57%).
  • Graduates from Iona University earn a median of about $3,100 more per year than Penn State Harrisburg graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,400 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Iona University graduates have a $771 lower median loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($26,047 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Iona University graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($269 vs. $277).
  • More Iona University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (73% 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.