Penn State Harrisburg vs. Ursinus College

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Harrisburg in Middletown, PA with Ursinus College in Collegeville, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Harrisburg is larger than Ursinus College based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 1,502 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Harrisburg is located in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting); Ursinus College is in Collegeville, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Ursinus College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Harrisburg 15:1; Ursinus College 10:1.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. Ursinus College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Harrisburg or Ursinus College? 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 Ursinus College ($23,788 vs. $32,158).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 15% lower than at Ursinus College ($14,474 vs. $17,028).
• Ursinus College is 283.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $45,238 more per year; $61,210.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 127.1% higher at Ursinus College than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $34,252 more per year; $61,210.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ursinus College than at Penn State Harrisburg (100% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Ursinus College students is 384.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($44,754 vs. $9,245).

Penn State Harrisburg vs. Ursinus College Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ursinus College (1290) is 70 points higher than at Penn State Harrisburg (1220).
• Incoming Ursinus College students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 26 at Penn State Harrisburg).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310; Ursinus College 1200/1385.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 22/31; Ursinus College 28/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional; Ursinus College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Ursinus College May 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Ursinus College students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than Ursinus College (91.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg vs. 12.5% at Ursinus College.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. Ursinus College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Ursinus College's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than Penn State Harrisburg's (63%).
• Graduates from Ursinus College earn a median of about $2,700 more per year than Penn State Harrisburg graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Ursinus College graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ursinus College graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Ursinus College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (83% 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.