Penn State Harrisburg vs. WCU

Comparable Facts

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

West Chester University of Pennsylvania is larger than Penn State Harrisburg based on total student enrollment (17,171 students vs. 4,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Harrisburg is located in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting); West Chester University of Pennsylvania is in West Chester, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. West Chester University of Pennsylvania is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Harrisburg 15:1; West Chester University of Pennsylvania 20:1.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. WCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Harrisburg or WCU? 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 West Chester University of Pennsylvania than Penn State Harrisburg ($22,546 vs. $23,788).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 2.4% lower than at West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($14,474 vs. $14,828).
• Penn State Harrisburg is 48.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than WCU (about $5,197 more per year; $15,972.00 vs. $10,775.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.3% higher at Penn State Harrisburg than at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (about $4,359 more per year; $26,958.00 vs. $22,599.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at West Chester University of Pennsylvania than at Penn State Harrisburg (73% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students is 61.9% larger than aid received by West Chester University of Pennsylvania students ($9,245 vs. $5,709).

Penn State Harrisburg vs. WCU Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Harrisburg (1220) is 30 points higher than at WCU (1190).
• Incoming Penn State Harrisburg students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 26) as students at WCU (26).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310; West Chester University of Pennsylvania 1100/1270.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 22/31; West Chester University of Pennsylvania 24/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional; WCU - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Harrisburg students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at WCU (3.43).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than WCU (78.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg vs. 22.4% at WCU.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• West Chester University of Pennsylvania's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Penn State Harrisburg's (63%).
• Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg earn a median of about $6,300 more per year than WCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $49,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, West Chester University of Pennsylvania graduates have a $3,318 lower median loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($23,500 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, WCU graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($242 vs. $277).
• More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (75% 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.