Lancaster Bible College vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Comparable Facts

Compare Lancaster Bible College in Lancaster, 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 Lancaster Bible College based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 2,519 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lancaster Bible College is located in Lancaster, PA (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Harrisburg is in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Lancaster Bible College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lancaster Bible College 19:1; Penn State Harrisburg 15:1.

Lancaster Bible College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lancaster Bible 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 Penn State Harrisburg than Lancaster Bible College ($23,788 vs. $25,940).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lancaster Bible College are 15.6% lower than at Penn State Harrisburg ($12,221 vs. $14,474).
• Lancaster Bible College is 87.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $14,018 more per year; $29,990.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.2% higher at Lancaster Bible College than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $3,032 more per year; $29,990.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lancaster Bible College than at Penn State Harrisburg (100% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lancaster Bible College students is 92.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($17,797 vs. $9,245).

Lancaster Bible College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lancaster Bible 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 Lancaster Bible College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Harrisburg (1220) is 40 points higher than at Lancaster Bible College (1180).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lancaster Bible College 1070/1280; 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: Lancaster Bible College - Test optional; Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Harrisburg students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at Lancaster Bible College (3.31).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than Lancaster Bible College (55.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 33.7% at Lancaster Bible College vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

Lancaster Bible College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lancaster Bible 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 Lancaster Bible College's (49%).
• Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg earn a median of about $20,400 more per year than Lancaster Bible College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $34,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lancaster Bible College graduates have a $10,152 lower median loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($16,666 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Lancaster Bible College graduates have an estimated $105 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($172 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Harrisburg graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lancaster Bible College students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 67%)

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.