Penn State Harrisburg vs. Susquahanna

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Harrisburg in Middletown, PA with Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Harrisburg is larger than Susquahanna based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 2,255 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Harrisburg is located in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting); Susquehanna University is in Selinsgrove, PA (Distant Town setting).
• Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Susquehanna University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Harrisburg 15:1; Susquehanna University 13:1.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. Susquahanna Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Harrisburg or Susquahanna? 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 Susquahanna ($23,788 vs. $26,444).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 10.1% lower than at Susquehanna University ($14,474 vs. $16,100).
• Susquehanna University is 274.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $43,878 more per year; $59,850.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 122% higher at Susquahanna than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $32,892 more per year; $59,850.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Susquehanna University than at Penn State Harrisburg (97% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Susquehanna University students is 429.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($48,966 vs. $9,245).

Penn State Harrisburg vs. Susquahanna Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Harrisburg (1220) is 20 points higher than at Susquahanna (1200).
• Incoming Penn State Harrisburg students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 25 at Susquahanna).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310; Susquehanna University 1100/1300.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 22/31; Susquehanna University 21/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional; Susquahanna - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Susquahanna students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than Susquahanna (81.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg vs. 13.6% at Susquahanna.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. Susquahanna Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Susquehanna University's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than Penn State Harrisburg's (63%).
• Graduates from Susquehanna University earn a median of about $1,700 more per year than Penn State Harrisburg graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,000 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 Susquahanna graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Susquahanna graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Susquahanna graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (83% 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.