Penn State Harrisburg vs. Swarthmore

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Harrisburg is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 1,623 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Harrisburg is located in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Harrisburg 15:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Harrisburg or Swarthmore? 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 Swarthmore College than Penn State Harrisburg ($22,469 vs. $23,788).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 28.7% lower than at Swarthmore College ($14,474 vs. $20,308).
• Swarthmore College is 310.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $49,522 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 142.9% higher at Swarthmore than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $38,536 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Harrisburg than at Swarthmore College (63% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 566.7% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($61,634 vs. $9,245).

Penn State Harrisburg vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 310 points higher than at Penn State Harrisburg (1220).
• Incoming Swarthmore students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 26 at Penn State Harrisburg).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 22/31; Swarthmore College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional; Swarthmore - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Swarthmore College's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than Penn State Harrisburg's (63%).
• Graduates from Swarthmore College earn a median of about $10,500 more per year than Penn State Harrisburg graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,800 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Swarthmore College graduates have a $7,318 lower median loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($19,500 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Swarthmore graduates have an estimated $76 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($201 vs. $277).
• More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (87% 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.