Penn State Harrisburg vs. CofC

Comparable Facts

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

College of Charleston is larger than Penn State Harrisburg based on total student enrollment (11,926 students vs. 4,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Harrisburg is located in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting); College of Charleston is in Charleston, SC (Midsize City setting).
• Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. College of Charleston is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Harrisburg 15:1; College of Charleston 16:1.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. CofC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Harrisburg or CofC? 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 College of Charleston than Penn State Harrisburg ($21,004 vs. $23,788).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of Charleston are 1% lower than at Penn State Harrisburg ($14,332 vs. $14,474).
• Penn State Harrisburg is 23.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than CofC (about $2,994 more per year; $15,972.00 vs. $12,978.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 42.1% higher at CofC than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $11,338 more per year; $38,296.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of Charleston than at Penn State Harrisburg (95% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students is 2.9% larger than aid received by College of Charleston students ($9,245 vs. $8,983).

Penn State Harrisburg vs. CofC Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at College of Charleston (1230) is 10 points higher than at Penn State Harrisburg (1220).
• Incoming CofC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 26 at Penn State Harrisburg).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310; College of Charleston 1140/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 22/31; College of Charleston 25/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional; CofC - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: CofC Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman CofC students have a 0.46 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than CofC (60%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg vs. 11.9% at CofC.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. CofC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Harrisburg and CofC? 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).

• The graduation rate at Penn State Harrisburg is the same as at College of Charleston (63% vs. 63%).
• Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg earn a median of about $9,100 more per year than CofC graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $46,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of Charleston graduates have a $5,318 lower median loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, CofC graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($222 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Harrisburg graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CofC students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 60%)

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.