McDaniel College vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Comparable Facts

Compare McDaniel College in Westminster, MD 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 McDaniel College based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 2,868 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• McDaniel College is located in Westminster, MD (Small Suburban setting); Penn State Harrisburg is in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• McDaniel College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: McDaniel College 13:1; Penn State Harrisburg 15:1.

McDaniel College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, McDaniel 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 McDaniel College ($23,788 vs. $24,497).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at McDaniel College are 10.4% lower than at Penn State Harrisburg ($12,974 vs. $14,474).
• McDaniel College is 226.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $36,109 more per year; $52,081.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 93.2% higher at McDaniel College than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $25,123 more per year; $52,081.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at McDaniel College than at Penn State Harrisburg (100% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by McDaniel College students is 340.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($40,721 vs. $9,245).

McDaniel College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPenn 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: McDaniel College - Test-free; Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman McDaniel College students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than McDaniel College (77.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.7% at McDaniel College vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

McDaniel College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for McDaniel 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).

• McDaniel College's six-year graduation rate (74%) is higher than Penn State Harrisburg's (63%).
• Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg earn a median of about $1,900 more per year than McDaniel College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $53,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than McDaniel College graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than McDaniel College graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More McDaniel College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (81% 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.