Penn State Harrisburg vs. Waynesburg College

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Harrisburg is larger than Waynesburg College based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 1,231 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Harrisburg is located in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting); Waynesburg University is in Waynesburg, PA (Distant Town setting).
• Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Waynesburg University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Harrisburg 15:1; Waynesburg University 12:1.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. Waynesburg College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Harrisburg or Waynesburg 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 Waynesburg University than Penn State Harrisburg ($18,667 vs. $23,788).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Waynesburg University are 4.7% lower than at Penn State Harrisburg ($13,790 vs. $14,474).
• Waynesburg University is 90.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $14,508 more per year; $30,480.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.1% higher at Waynesburg College than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $3,522 more per year; $30,480.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Waynesburg University than at Penn State Harrisburg (100% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Waynesburg University students is 170.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($24,971 vs. $9,245).

Penn State Harrisburg vs. Waynesburg College Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Harrisburg (1220) is 130 points higher than at Waynesburg College (1090).
• Incoming Penn State Harrisburg students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 21 at Waynesburg College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310; Waynesburg University 930/1250.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 22/31; Waynesburg University 19/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional; Waynesburg College - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Waynesburg College students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than Waynesburg College (89.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg vs. 19% at Waynesburg College.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. Waynesburg College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Harrisburg and Waynesburg 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).

• Penn State Harrisburg's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Waynesburg University's (57%).
• Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg earn a median of about $6,400 more per year than Waynesburg College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $48,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Waynesburg 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 Waynesburg College graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Waynesburg College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (73% 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.