Keystone College vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Comparable Facts

Compare Keystone College in La Plume, 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 Keystone College based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 952 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Keystone College is located in La Plume, PA (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Harrisburg is in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Keystone College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Keystone College 12:1; Penn State Harrisburg 15:1.

Keystone College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Keystone 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 Keystone College than Penn State Harrisburg ($21,952 vs. $23,788).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Keystone College are 12.9% lower than at Penn State Harrisburg ($12,600 vs. $14,474).
• Keystone College is 14.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $2,328 more per year; $18,300.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 47.3% higher at Penn State Harrisburg than at Keystone College (about $8,658 more per year; $26,958.00 vs. $18,300.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Keystone College than at Penn State Harrisburg (84% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Keystone College students is 9.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($10,119 vs. $9,245).

Keystone College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Harrisburg (1220) is 200 points higher than at Keystone College (1020).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Keystone College 910/1130; Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPenn State Harrisburg 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Keystone College - Test optional; Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Harrisburg students have a 0.48 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at Keystone College (3.0).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than Keystone College (84.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.8% at Keystone College vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

Keystone College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Keystone 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).

• Penn State Harrisburg's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Keystone College's (39%).
• Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg earn a median of about $21,900 more per year than Keystone College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $33,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Keystone College graduates have a $818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Keystone College graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($268 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Harrisburg graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Keystone College students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 57%)

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.