Penn State Harrisburg vs. URI

Comparable Facts

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

University of Rhode Island is larger than Penn State Harrisburg based on total student enrollment (17,210 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 Rhode Island is in Kingston, RI (Large Suburban setting).
• Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Rhode Island is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Harrisburg 15:1; University of Rhode Island 17:1.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. URI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Harrisburg or URI? 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 URI ($23,788 vs. $24,118).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 7.3% lower than at University of Rhode Island ($14,474 vs. $15,607).
• University of Rhode Island is 6.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $970 more per year; $16,942.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 37.8% higher at URI than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $10,188 more per year; $37,146.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Rhode Island than at Penn State Harrisburg (96% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Rhode Island students is 36.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($12,578 vs. $9,245).

Penn State Harrisburg vs. URI Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Harrisburg (1220) is 70 points higher than at URI (1150).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310; University of Rhode Island 1020/1280.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional; URI - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: URI Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman URI students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than URI (72.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg vs. 15.4% at URI.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. URI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• The graduation rate at Penn State Harrisburg is the same as at University of Rhode Island (63% vs. 63%).
• Graduates from University of Rhode Island earn a median of about $900 more per year than Penn State Harrisburg graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Rhode Island graduates have a $3,380 lower median loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($23,438 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, URI graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($242 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Harrisburg graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former URI students, three years after graduation. (69% 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.