Penn State Beaver vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Beaver in Monaca, 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 Penn State Beaver based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 482 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Beaver is located in Monaca, PA (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Harrisburg is in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Penn State Beaver is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Beaver 12:1; Penn State Harrisburg 15:1.

Penn State Beaver vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Beaver 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 Beaver than Penn State Harrisburg ($18,581 vs. $23,788).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Penn State Beaver and Penn State Harrisburg ($14,474).
• Penn State Harrisburg is 10.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Beaver (about $1,564 more per year; $15,972.00 vs. $14,408.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.7% higher at Penn State Harrisburg than at Penn State Beaver (about $2,824 more per year; $26,958.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Beaver than at Penn State Harrisburg (88% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students is 2.2% larger than aid received by Penn State Beaver students ($9,245 vs. $9,045).

Penn State Beaver vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Beaver 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 Penn State Beaver.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Harrisburg (1220) is 30 points higher than at Penn State Beaver (1190).
• Incoming Penn State Harrisburg students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 25 at Penn State Beaver).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Beaver 1080/1290; Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Beaver 24/27; Penn State Harrisburg 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Beaver - Test optional; Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional.
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than Penn State Beaver (95.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.5% at Penn State Beaver vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

Penn State Beaver vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Beaver 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 Penn State Beaver's (47%).
• Graduates of Penn State Beaver and Penn State Harrisburg have equivalent median earnings about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $55,300), per the federal College Scorecard cohort (typically among students working and not enrolled).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg and Penn State Beaver graduates have the same median loan debt ($26,818 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Penn State Harrisburg and Penn State Beaver graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($277 vs. $277).
• Federal student loan repayment rates three years after graduation are the same for Penn State Harrisburg and Penn State Beaver graduates (69% 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.