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Penn State Erie-Behrend College Penn State Altoona JMU Penn State Penn State York Penn State Abington Rowan University University of New Hampshire-Main Campus Ohio University UB Penn State Berks City College of New York| Penn State Harrisburg | Thomas Jefferson University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Penn State Harrisburg | Jefferson | ||
| Location | Middletown, PA | Philadelphia, PA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 4,651 | 8,315 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #595 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | psu.edu | jefferson.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Penn State Harrisburg | Jefferson | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $15,388 | $44,400 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $26,112 | $44,400 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,870 | $17,246 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,406 | $29,097 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,421 | $33,063 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 54% | 100% |
Admission |
Penn State Harrisburg | Jefferson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 10,296 | 6,084 | ||
| Admitted | 9,924 | 5,241 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96.4% | 86.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 12.2% | 14.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.48 | 3.73 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 26/30 | 27/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1110/1320 | 1150/1350 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jul 31, 2026 |
Academics |
Penn State Harrisburg | Jefferson | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Penn State Harrisburg | Jefferson | ||
| Graduation Rate | 63% | - | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $55,300 | $122,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 69% | 86% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,818 | $12,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $277 | $129 |
Diversity |
Penn State Harrisburg | Jefferson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 5% | 15% | ||
| % Women | 6% | 40% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 59% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 11% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 1% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 10% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 7% |
Students |
Penn State Harrisburg | Jefferson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 46% | 68% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 27% | 30% | ||
Campus |
Penn State Harrisburg | Jefferson | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | |||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | |||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Thomas Jefferson University is larger than than Penn State Harrisburg based on total student enrollment (8,315 students vs. 4,651 students)
Penn State Harrisburg vs. Jefferson Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Penn State Harrisburg or Jefferson?
- Thomas Jefferson University is 188.5% more expensive to attend than Penn State Harrisburg for in-state tuition ($44,400.00 vs. $15,388.00)
- Out of state tuition is 70% higher at Jefferson than Penn State Harrisburg ($44,400.00 vs. $26,112.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Harrisburg than Jefferson ($22,406 vs. $29,097)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 8.7% lower than costs at Thomas Jefferson University ($15,870 vs. $17,246)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Thomas Jefferson University than Penn State Harrisburg (100% vs. 54%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Thomas Jefferson University students is 292.6% larger than aid received Penn State Harrisburg ($33,063 vs. $8,421)
Penn State Harrisburg vs. Jefferson Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Harrisburg or Jefferson? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Jefferson or Penn State Harrisburg .
- Accepted freshman Jefferson students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48)
- Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (96.4%) than Jefferson (86.1%)
Penn State Harrisburg vs. Jefferson Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Penn State Harrisburg or Jefferson? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Jefferson and Penn State Harrisburg.
- Graduates from Thomas Jefferson University earn on average $67,600 more per year than Penn State Harrisburg graduates after ten years. ($122,900 vs. $55,300)
- Thomas Jefferson University students graduate with a $14,318 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates. ($12,500 vs. $26,818)
- Jefferson graduates are paying $148 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Harrisburg graduates. ($129 vs. $277)
- More Jefferson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/