Moravian College vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Comparable Facts

Compare Moravian University in Bethlehem, 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 Moravian College based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 2,745 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Moravian University is located in Bethlehem, PA (Small City setting); Penn State Harrisburg is in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Moravian University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Moravian University 10:1; Penn State Harrisburg 15:1.

Moravian College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Moravian 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 Moravian College ($23,788 vs. $31,743).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 16% lower than at Moravian University ($14,474 vs. $17,222).
• Moravian University is 235% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $37,528 more per year; $53,500.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 98.5% higher at Moravian College than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $26,542 more per year; $53,500.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Moravian University than at Penn State Harrisburg (100% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Moravian University students is 270.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($34,261 vs. $9,245).

Moravian College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Harrisburg (1220) is 40 points higher than at Moravian College (1180).
• Incoming Moravian College students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 26) as students at Penn State Harrisburg (26).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Moravian University 1070/1285; Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Moravian University 24/29; Penn State Harrisburg 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Moravian College - Test optional; Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Moravian College students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than Moravian College (54.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16% at Moravian College vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

Moravian College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Moravian 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).

• Moravian University's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than Penn State Harrisburg's (63%).
• Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg earn a median of about $4,500 more per year than Moravian College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $50,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Moravian 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 Moravian College graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Moravian College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (79% 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.