Penn State Harrisburg vs. VMI

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Harrisburg in Middletown, PA with Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Harrisburg is larger than VMI based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 1,527 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Harrisburg is located in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting); Virginia Military Institute is in Lexington, VA (Distant Rural setting).
• Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Military Institute is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Harrisburg 15:1; Virginia Military Institute 9:1.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. VMI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Harrisburg or VMI? 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 Virginia Military Institute than Penn State Harrisburg ($18,825 vs. $23,788).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Military Institute are 21.9% lower than at Penn State Harrisburg ($11,310 vs. $14,474).
• Virginia Military Institute is 31.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $5,074 more per year; $21,046.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 95.3% higher at VMI than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $25,680 more per year; $52,638.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Military Institute than at Penn State Harrisburg (81% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Military Institute students is 157.7% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($23,821 vs. $9,245).

Penn State Harrisburg vs. VMI Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Harrisburg (1220) is 60 points higher than at VMI (1160).
• Incoming VMI students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 26 at Penn State Harrisburg).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310; Virginia Military Institute 1050/1270.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 22/31; Virginia Military Institute 24/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional; VMI - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: VMI Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman VMI students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than VMI (71.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg vs. 31.7% at VMI.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. VMI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Virginia Military Institute's six-year graduation rate (69%) is higher than Penn State Harrisburg's (63%).
• Graduates from Virginia Military Institute earn a median of about $6,800 more per year than Penn State Harrisburg graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Virginia Military Institute graduates have a $1,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, VMI graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($258 vs. $277).
• More VMI 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.