Niagara University vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Should I go to Niagara University or Penn State Harrisburg? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Niagara University or Penn State Harrisburg is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Niagara University vs. Penn State Harrisburg comparison
Niagara University Penn State Harrisburg College 3 College 4
Niagara University Penn State Harrisburg
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Overview

Niagara University Penn State Harrisburg
Location Niagara University, NY Middletown, PA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 3,858 4,572
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #487 #613
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website niagara.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Niagara University Penn State Harrisburg
Tuition (In State) $35,400 $15,388
Tuition (Out of State) $35,400 $25,854
Room & Board $12,700 $14,978
Avg Net Price $18,165 $22,096
Avg Grant Aid $29,898 $8,882
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 63%

Admission

Niagara University Penn State Harrisburg
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,836 9,925
Admitted 3,435 9,483
Acceptance Rate 89.5% 95.5%
Enrolled % 15.9% 12.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.53 3.48
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 24/28 24/28
SAT Range 1030/1240 1100/1310
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 30, 2025

Academics

Niagara University Penn State Harrisburg
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (35%)
  • Business (29%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)
  • Biology (4%)
  • Business (34%)
  • Engineering (23%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • English and Literature (5%)

Outcomes

Niagara University Penn State Harrisburg
Graduation Rate 65% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,100 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 72% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $258 $277

Diversity

Niagara University Penn State Harrisburg
% Men 35% 60%
% Women 65% 40%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 68% 59%
% Black 5% 11%
% Hispanic 4% 6%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 13% 10%
% Unknown Race 5% 2%

Students

Niagara University Penn State Harrisburg
% In-State 81% 46%
% Out-of-State 10% 27%

Campus

Niagara University Penn State Harrisburg
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Penn State Harrisburg is larger than than Niagara University based on total student enrollment (4,572 students vs. 3,858 students)

Niagara University vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Niagara University or Penn State Harrisburg?

  • Niagara University is 130% more expensive to attend than Penn State Harrisburg for in-state tuition ($35,400.00 vs. $15,388.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 36.9% higher at Niagara University than Penn State Harrisburg ($35,400.00 vs. $25,854.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Niagara University than Penn State Harrisburg ($18,165 vs. $22,096)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Niagara University are 17.9% lower than costs at Penn State Harrisburg ($12,700 vs. $14,978)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Niagara University than Penn State Harrisburg (100% vs. 63%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Niagara University students is 236.6% larger than aid received Penn State Harrisburg ($29,898 vs. $8,882)

Niagara University vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Niagara University or Penn State Harrisburg? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State Harrisburg or Niagara University .

  • The average SAT score at Penn State Harrisburg (1043) is 6 points higher than at Niagara University (1037)
  • Incoming Niagara University students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at Penn State Harrisburg (23)
  • Accepted freshman Niagara University students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48)
  • Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (95.5%) than Niagara University (89.5%)

Niagara University vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Niagara University or Penn State Harrisburg? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Penn State Harrisburg and Niagara University.

  • The graduation rate at Niagara University is higher than Penn State Harrisburg (65% vs. 63%)
  • Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg earn on average $12,200 more per year than Niagara University graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $43,100)
  • Niagara University students graduate with a $1,818 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates. ($25,000 vs. $26,818)
  • Niagara University graduates are paying $19 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Harrisburg graduates. ($258 vs. $277)
  • More Niagara University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/