Penn State Harrisburg vs. PHC

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Harrisburg is larger than PHC based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 425 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Harrisburg is located in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting); Patrick Henry College is in Purcellville, Virginia (Town Fringe setting).
• Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Patrick Henry College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Harrisburg 15:1; Patrick Henry College 14:1.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. PHC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Harrisburg or PHC? 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 Harrisburg than PHC ($23,788 vs. $25,869).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Patrick Henry College are 23.9% lower than at Penn State Harrisburg ($11,020 vs. $14,474).
• Patrick Henry College is 78% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $12,453 more per year; $28,425.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.4% higher at PHC than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $1,467 more per year; $28,425.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Patrick Henry College than at Penn State Harrisburg (100% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Patrick Henry College students is 44.3% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($13,345 vs. $9,245).

Penn State Harrisburg vs. PHC Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Patrick Henry College (1330) is 110 points higher than at Penn State Harrisburg (1220).
• Incoming PHC students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 26 at Penn State Harrisburg).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310; Patrick Henry College 1240/1420.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 22/31; Patrick Henry College 27/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional; PHC - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: PHC Jul 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman PHC students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than PHC (77.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg vs. 47.6% at PHC.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. PHC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

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.