Penn State Harrisburg vs. University of Scranton

Should I go to Penn State Harrisburg or University of Scranton? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Penn State Harrisburg or University of Scranton is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Penn State Harrisburg vs. University of Scranton comparison
Penn State Harrisburg University of Scranton College 3 College 4
Penn State Harrisburg University of Scranton
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Overview

Penn State Harrisburg University of Scranton
Location Middletown, PA Scranton, PA
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 4,572 4,731
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #613 #217
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website psu.edu scranton.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Penn State Harrisburg University of Scranton
Tuition (In State) $15,388 $49,912
Tuition (Out of State) $25,854 $49,912
Room & Board $14,978 $16,490
Avg Net Price $22,096 $35,526
Avg Grant Aid $8,882 $30,218
% Receiving Grant Aid 63% 98%

Admission

Penn State Harrisburg University of Scranton
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,925 9,530
Admitted 9,483 8,039
Acceptance Rate 95.5% 84.4%
Enrolled % 12.6% 13.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.48 3.56
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 24/28 25/31
SAT Range 1100/1310 1150/1320
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 Mar 1, 2025

Academics

Penn State Harrisburg University of Scranton
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (34%)
  • Engineering (23%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • English and Literature (5%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Communication (7%)

Outcomes

Penn State Harrisburg University of Scranton
Graduation Rate 63% 77%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $55,300 $62,100
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 81%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,818 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $277 $279

Diversity

Penn State Harrisburg University of Scranton
% Men 60% 42%
% Women 40% 58%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 59% 82%
% Black 11% 2%
% Hispanic 6% 9%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 10% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

Penn State Harrisburg University of Scranton
% In-State 46% 44%
% Out-of-State 27% 56%

Campus

Penn State Harrisburg University of Scranton
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Scranton is larger than than Penn State Harrisburg based on total student enrollment (4,731 students vs. 4,572 students)

Penn State Harrisburg vs. University of Scranton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Harrisburg or University of Scranton?

  • University of Scranton is 224.4% more expensive to attend than Penn State Harrisburg for in-state tuition ($49,912.00 vs. $15,388.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 93.1% higher at University of Scranton than Penn State Harrisburg ($49,912.00 vs. $25,854.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Harrisburg than University of Scranton ($22,096 vs. $35,526)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 10.1% lower than costs at University of Scranton ($14,978 vs. $16,490)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Scranton than Penn State Harrisburg (98% vs. 63%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Scranton students is 240.2% larger than aid received Penn State Harrisburg ($30,218 vs. $8,882)

Penn State Harrisburg vs. University of Scranton Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Harrisburg or University of Scranton? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between University of Scranton or Penn State Harrisburg .

  • The average SAT score at University of Scranton (1134) is 91 points higher than at Penn State Harrisburg (1043)
  • Incoming University of Scranton students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (23)
  • Accepted freshman University of Scranton students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48)
  • Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (95.5%) than University of Scranton (84.4%)

Penn State Harrisburg vs. University of Scranton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Penn State Harrisburg or University of Scranton? 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 University of Scranton and Penn State Harrisburg.

  • The graduation rate at University of Scranton is higher than Penn State Harrisburg (77% vs. 63%)
  • Graduates from University of Scranton earn on average $6,800 more per year than Penn State Harrisburg graduates after ten years. ($62,100 vs. $55,300)
  • Penn State Harrisburg students graduate with a $182 lower median federal student loan debt than University of Scranton graduates. ($26,818 vs. $27,000)
  • Penn State Harrisburg graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than University of Scranton graduates. ($277 vs. $279)
  • More University of Scranton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/