Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Harrisburg is larger than Penn State Wilkes-Barre based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 315 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Wilkes Barre is located in Dallas, PA (Rural Fringe setting); Penn State Harrisburg is in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Penn State Wilkes Barre is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Wilkes Barre 10:1; Penn State Harrisburg 15:1.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Wilkes-Barre or Penn State Harrisburg? 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 Penn State Wilkes Barre than Penn State Harrisburg ($16,621 vs. $23,788).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 5.2% lower than at Penn State Wilkes Barre ($14,474 vs. $15,274).
• Penn State Harrisburg is 11.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Wilkes-Barre (about $1,692 more per year; $15,972.00 vs. $14,280.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.3% higher at Penn State Harrisburg than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (about $2,952 more per year; $26,958.00 vs. $24,006.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Wilkes Barre than at Penn State Harrisburg (89% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Wilkes Barre students is 5.4% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($9,742 vs. $9,245).

Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Wilkes-Barre or Penn State Harrisburg? 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 Penn State Harrisburg and Penn State Wilkes-Barre.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Harrisburg (1220) is 10 points higher than at Penn State Wilkes-Barre (1210).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Wilkes Barre 1090/1330; Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPenn State Harrisburg 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Wilkes-Barre - Test optional; Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional.
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than Penn State Wilkes-Barre (97%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15% at Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Wilkes-Barre and Penn State Harrisburg? 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 Penn State Wilkes Barre's (47%).
• Graduates of Penn State Wilkes Barre and Penn State Harrisburg have equivalent median earnings about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $55,300), per the federal College Scorecard cohort (typically among students working and not enrolled).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg and Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates have the same median loan debt ($26,818 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Penn State Harrisburg and Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($277 vs. $277).
• Federal student loan repayment rates three years after graduation are the same for Penn State Harrisburg and Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates (69% 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.