Penn State Harrisburg vs. Providence

Comparable Facts

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

Providence College is larger than Penn State Harrisburg based on total student enrollment (4,666 students vs. 4,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Harrisburg is located in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting); Providence College is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
• Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Providence College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Harrisburg 15:1; Providence College 11:1.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. Providence Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Harrisburg or Providence? 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 Providence ($23,788 vs. $48,618).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 18.9% lower than at Providence College ($14,474 vs. $17,840).
• Providence College is 297.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $47,578 more per year; $63,550.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 135.7% higher at Providence than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $36,592 more per year; $63,550.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Providence College than at Penn State Harrisburg (83% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Providence College students is 244.8% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($31,873 vs. $9,245).

Penn State Harrisburg vs. Providence Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Providence College (1320) is 100 points higher than at Penn State Harrisburg (1220).
• Incoming Providence 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; Providence College 1250/1390.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 22/31; Providence College 29/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional; Providence - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Providence Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Harrisburg students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at Providence (3.47).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than Providence (50.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg vs. 19.2% at Providence.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. Providence Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Providence College's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Penn State Harrisburg's (63%).
• Graduates from Providence College earn a median of about $12,700 more per year than Penn State Harrisburg graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,000 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Providence graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Providence graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Providence graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (80% 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.