Penn State Harrisburg vs. YCP

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Harrisburg is larger than YCP based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 3,825 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Penn State Harrisburg vs. YCP Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Harrisburg or YCP? 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 York College of Pennsylvania than Penn State Harrisburg ($20,096 vs. $23,788).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at York College of Pennsylvania are 6.3% lower than at Penn State Harrisburg ($13,560 vs. $14,474).
• York College of Pennsylvania is 60.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $9,616 more per year; $25,588.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.4% higher at Penn State Harrisburg than at York College of Pennsylvania (about $1,370 more per year; $26,958.00 vs. $25,588.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at York College of Pennsylvania than at Penn State Harrisburg (99% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by York College of Pennsylvania students is 88.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($17,427 vs. $9,245).

Penn State Harrisburg vs. YCP Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Harrisburg (1220) is 70 points higher than at YCP (1150).
• Incoming Penn State Harrisburg students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 24 at YCP).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310; York College of Pennsylvania 1020/1270.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 22/31; York College of Pennsylvania 21/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional; YCP - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: YCP Aug 23, 2027.
• Accepted freshman YCP students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than YCP (73.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg vs. 14.6% at YCP.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. YCP Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Harrisburg and YCP? 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 York College of Pennsylvania's (60%).
• Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg earn a median of about $4,600 more per year than YCP graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $50,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, York College of Pennsylvania graduates have a $323 lower median loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($26,495 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, YCP graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($273 vs. $277).
• More YCP 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.