Penn State Harrisburg vs. BC

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Harrisburg in Middletown, PA with Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Harrisburg is larger than BC based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 1,448 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Harrisburg is located in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting); Bridgewater College is in Bridgewater, VA (Small Suburban setting).
• Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Bridgewater College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Harrisburg 15:1; Bridgewater College 13:1.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. BC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Harrisburg or BC? 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 Bridgewater College than Penn State Harrisburg ($11,316 vs. $23,788).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 2.5% lower than at Bridgewater College ($14,474 vs. $14,850).
• Bridgewater College is 0.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $118 more per year; $16,090.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 67.5% higher at Penn State Harrisburg than at Bridgewater College (about $10,868 more per year; $26,958.00 vs. $16,090.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bridgewater College than at Penn State Harrisburg (100% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bridgewater College students is 411.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($47,288 vs. $9,245).

Penn State Harrisburg vs. BC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Harrisburg or BC? 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 BC and Penn State Harrisburg.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Harrisburg (1220) is 30 points higher than at BC (1190).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310; Bridgewater College 1020/1360.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional; BC - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: BC May 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman BC students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than BC (91.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg vs. 10.1% at BC.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. BC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Harrisburg and BC? 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 Bridgewater College's (59%).
• Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg earn a median of about $12,200 more per year than BC graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $43,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than BC graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BC graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (77% 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.