MMC vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Comparable Facts

Compare Marymount Manhattan College in New York, 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 MMC based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 1,601 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Marymount Manhattan College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Penn State Harrisburg is in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Marymount Manhattan College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Marymount Manhattan College 7:1; Penn State Harrisburg 15:1.

MMC vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MMC 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 MMC ($23,788 vs. $38,376).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 31.3% lower than at Marymount Manhattan College ($14,474 vs. $21,054).
• Marymount Manhattan College is 162.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $25,898 more per year; $41,870.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 55.3% higher at MMC than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $14,912 more per year; $41,870.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Marymount Manhattan College than at Penn State Harrisburg (100% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Marymount Manhattan College students is 195.8% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($27,348 vs. $9,245).

MMC vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MMC or Penn State Harrisburg? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Penn State Harrisburg and MMC.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Penn State Harrisburg (1220) is 10 points higher than at MMC (1210).
• Incoming Penn State Harrisburg students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (26 vs. 25 at MMC).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Marymount Manhattan College 1105/1323; Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Marymount Manhattan College 24/27; Penn State Harrisburg 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MMC - Test optional; Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: MMC Aug 1, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman Penn State Harrisburg students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at MMC (3.45).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than MMC (82.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 6.4% at MMC vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

MMC vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MMC and Penn State Harrisburg? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Penn State Harrisburg's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Marymount Manhattan College's (40%).
• Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg earn a median of about $10,500 more per year than MMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $44,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Marymount Manhattan College graduates have a $3,318 lower median loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($23,500 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, MMC graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($242 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Harrisburg graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MMC students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 60%)

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.