Penn State Harrisburg vs. Penn

Comparable Facts

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

University of Pennsylvania is larger than Penn State Harrisburg based on total student enrollment (29,109 students vs. 4,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Harrisburg is located in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting); University of Pennsylvania is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
• Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pennsylvania is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Harrisburg 15:1; University of Pennsylvania 8:1.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. Penn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Harrisburg or Penn? 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 University of Pennsylvania than Penn State Harrisburg ($23,570 vs. $23,788).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 24.5% lower than at University of Pennsylvania ($14,474 vs. $19,174).
• University of Pennsylvania is 330% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $52,714 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 154.8% higher at Penn than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $41,728 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Harrisburg than at University of Pennsylvania (63% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pennsylvania students is 608% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($65,458 vs. $9,245).

Penn State Harrisburg vs. Penn Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Pennsylvania (1540) is 320 points higher than at Penn State Harrisburg (1220).
• Incoming Penn students have a 9 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 26 at Penn State Harrisburg).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310; University of Pennsylvania 1510/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 22/31; University of Pennsylvania 34/36.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional; Penn - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: Penn Jan 5, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Penn students have a 0.47 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than Penn (5.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg vs. 68% at Penn.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. Penn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• University of Pennsylvania's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Penn State Harrisburg's (63%).
• Graduates from University of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $68,300 more per year than Penn State Harrisburg graduates about ten years after starting college ($123,600 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Pennsylvania graduates have a $6,185 lower median loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($20,633 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Penn graduates have an estimated $64 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($213 vs. $277).
• More Penn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.