Penn State Harrisburg vs. USD

Comparable Facts

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

University of South Dakota is larger than Penn State Harrisburg based on total student enrollment (10,619 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 South Dakota is in Vermillion, SD (Distant Town setting).
• Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of South Dakota is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Harrisburg 15:1; University of South Dakota 16:1.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. USD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Harrisburg or USD? 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 South Dakota than Penn State Harrisburg ($19,133 vs. $23,788).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Dakota are 28.5% lower than at Penn State Harrisburg ($10,356 vs. $14,474).
• Penn State Harrisburg is 69.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than USD (about $6,540 more per year; $15,972.00 vs. $9,432.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 108.3% higher at Penn State Harrisburg than at University of South Dakota (about $14,016 more per year; $26,958.00 vs. $12,942.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of South Dakota than at Penn State Harrisburg (83% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students is 64.4% larger than aid received by University of South Dakota students ($9,245 vs. $5,623).

Penn State Harrisburg vs. USD Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Harrisburg (1220) is the same as at USD (1220).
• Incoming Penn State Harrisburg students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 22 at USD).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310; University of South Dakota 1125/1315.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 22/31; University of South Dakota 19/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional; USD - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Harrisburg students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at USD (3.43).
• USD has a higher acceptance rate (98.8%) than Penn State Harrisburg (97.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg vs. 24.1% at USD.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. USD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Penn State Harrisburg's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than University of South Dakota's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg earn a median of about $7,100 more per year than USD graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $48,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of South Dakota graduates have a $1,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, USD graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($258 vs. $277).
• More USD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (70% 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.