Penn State Harrisburg vs. Westminster College

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Harrisburg is larger than Westminster College based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 1,191 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Penn State Harrisburg vs. Westminster College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Harrisburg or Westminster 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 Westminster College than Penn State Harrisburg ($20,394 vs. $23,788).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Westminster College are 11% lower than at Penn State Harrisburg ($12,880 vs. $14,474).
• Westminster College is 152.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $24,318 more per year; $40,290.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 49.5% higher at Westminster College than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $13,332 more per year; $40,290.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Westminster College than at Penn State Harrisburg (100% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Westminster College students is 252.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($32,553 vs. $9,245).

Penn State Harrisburg vs. Westminster College Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Harrisburg (1220) is 70 points higher than at Westminster College (1150).
• Incoming Penn State Harrisburg students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 23 at Westminster College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310; Westminster College 1040/1258.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 22/31; Westminster College 20/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional; Westminster College - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman Westminster College students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than Westminster College (92.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg vs. 12.1% at Westminster College.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. Westminster College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Westminster College's six-year graduation rate (74%) is higher than Penn State Harrisburg's (63%).
• Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg earn a median of about $9,600 more per year than Westminster College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $45,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Westminster 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 Westminster College graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Westminster College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.