Penn State Harrisburg vs. Saint Joseph's University

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Harrisburg in Middletown, PA with Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia in Philadelphia, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia is larger than Penn State Harrisburg based on total student enrollment (7,159 students vs. 4,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Harrisburg is located in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting); Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
• Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Harrisburg 15:1; Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia 11:1.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. Saint Joseph's University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Harrisburg or Saint Joseph's University? 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 Saint Joseph's University ($23,788 vs. $31,205).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 10.9% lower than at Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia ($14,474 vs. $16,240).
• Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia is 233.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $37,288 more per year; $53,260.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 97.6% higher at Saint Joseph's University than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $26,302 more per year; $53,260.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia than at Penn State Harrisburg (100% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia students is 299.8% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($36,964 vs. $9,245).

Penn State Harrisburg vs. Saint Joseph's University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Harrisburg or Saint Joseph's University? 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 Saint Joseph's University and Penn State Harrisburg.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia (1260) is 40 points higher than at Penn State Harrisburg (1220).
• Incoming Saint Joseph's University students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 26 at Penn State Harrisburg).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310; Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia 1170/1350.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 22/31; Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia 28/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional; Saint Joseph's University - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Saint Joseph's University Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Saint Joseph's University students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than Saint Joseph's University (88.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg vs. 14.1% at Saint Joseph's University.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. Saint Joseph's University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Harrisburg and Saint Joseph's University? 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).

• Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than Penn State Harrisburg's (63%).
• Graduates from Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia earn a median of about $8,700 more per year than Penn State Harrisburg graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,000 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia graduates have a $3,810 lower median loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($23,008 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Saint Joseph's University graduates have an estimated $40 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($237 vs. $277).
• More Saint Joseph's University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.