Penn State Berks vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Berks in Reading, 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 Berks based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 1,884 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Berks is located in Reading, PA (Rural Fringe setting); Penn State Harrisburg is in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Penn State Berks 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 Berks 13:1; Penn State Harrisburg 15:1.

Penn State Berks vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Berks 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 Berks than Penn State Harrisburg ($23,721 vs. $23,788).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Penn State Berks and Penn State Harrisburg ($14,474).
• Penn State Berks and Penn State Harrisburg have the same published in-state tuition ($15,972.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is the same at Penn State Berks as at Penn State Harrisburg ($26,958.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Berks than at Penn State Harrisburg (69% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Berks students is 1.7% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($9,405 vs. $9,245).

Penn State Berks vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Harrisburg (1220) is 40 points higher than at Penn State Berks (1180).
• Incoming Penn State Harrisburg students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 22 at Penn State Berks).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Berks 1090/1275; Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Berks 18/27; Penn State Harrisburg 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Berks - Test optional; Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Harrisburg students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at Penn State Berks (3.39).
• Penn State Berks has a higher acceptance rate (98.7%) than Penn State Harrisburg (97.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.4% at Penn State Berks vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

Penn State Berks vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Berks 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 Berks's (55%).
• Graduates of Penn State Berks 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 Berks graduates have the same median loan debt ($26,818 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Penn State Harrisburg and Penn State Berks 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 Berks 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.