Marywood vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Comparable Facts

Compare Marywood University in Scranton, 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 Marywood based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 2,530 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Marywood University is located in Scranton, PA (Small City setting); Penn State Harrisburg is in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Marywood University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Marywood University 11:1; Penn State Harrisburg 15:1.

Marywood vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Marywood 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 Marywood ($23,788 vs. $26,217).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 8.4% lower than at Marywood University ($14,474 vs. $15,800).
• Marywood University is 159.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $25,448 more per year; $41,420.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 53.6% higher at Marywood than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $14,462 more per year; $41,420.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Marywood University than at Penn State Harrisburg (100% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Marywood University students is 219.9% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($29,574 vs. $9,245).

Marywood vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Marywood 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 Marywood.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Penn State Harrisburg (1220) is 60 points higher than at Marywood (1160).
• Incoming Penn State Harrisburg students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (26 vs. 24 at Marywood).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Marywood University 1060/1250; Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Marywood University 18/30; Penn State Harrisburg 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Marywood - Test optional; Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional.
• Enrolled freshman Marywood students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than Marywood (60.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at Marywood vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

Marywood vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Marywood 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 Marywood University's (62%).
• Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg earn a median of about $14,200 more per year than Marywood graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $41,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Marywood graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Marywood graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Marywood graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (70% 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.