Mount Saint Mary College vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Comparable Facts

Compare Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, 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 Mount Saint Mary College based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 2,491 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mount Saint Mary College is located in Newburgh, NY (Small City setting); Penn State Harrisburg is in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Mount Saint Mary College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mount Saint Mary College 12:1; Penn State Harrisburg 15:1.

Mount Saint Mary College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mount Saint Mary 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 Mount Saint Mary College ($23,788 vs. $26,896).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 25.4% lower than at Mount Saint Mary College ($14,474 vs. $19,390).
• Mount Saint Mary College is 172% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $27,478 more per year; $43,450.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 61.2% higher at Mount Saint Mary College than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $16,492 more per year; $43,450.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mount Saint Mary College than at Penn State Harrisburg (99% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Saint Mary College students is 206.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($28,345 vs. $9,245).

Mount Saint Mary College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mount Saint Mary 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 Mount Saint Mary College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Harrisburg (1220) is 50 points higher than at Mount Saint Mary College (1170).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Saint Mary College 1090/1255; 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: Mount Saint Mary College - Test optional; Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Harrisburg students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at Mount Saint Mary College (3.3).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than Mount Saint Mary College (88.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7% at Mount Saint Mary College vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

Mount Saint Mary College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mount Saint Mary 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 Mount Saint Mary College's (55%).
• Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg earn a median of about $6,100 more per year than Mount Saint Mary College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $49,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mount Saint Mary College graduates have a $818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Mount Saint Mary College graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($268 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Harrisburg graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mount Saint Mary 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.