Quinnipiac vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Comparable Facts

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

Quinnipiac University is larger than Penn State Harrisburg based on total student enrollment (9,424 students vs. 4,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Quinnipiac vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Quinnipiac 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 Harrisburg than Quinnipiac ($23,788 vs. $40,632).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 16.1% lower than at Quinnipiac University ($14,474 vs. $17,260).
• Quinnipiac University is 247.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $39,508 more per year; $55,480.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 105.8% higher at Quinnipiac than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $28,522 more per year; $55,480.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Quinnipiac University than at Penn State Harrisburg (100% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Quinnipiac University students is 241.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($31,568 vs. $9,245).

Quinnipiac vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Quinnipiac 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 Quinnipiac.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Quinnipiac University (1240) is 20 points higher than at Penn State Harrisburg (1220).
• Incoming Quinnipiac students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 26 at Penn State Harrisburg).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Quinnipiac University 1150/1320; Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Quinnipiac University 25/30; Penn State Harrisburg 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Quinnipiac - Test optional; Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Quinnipiac Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Harrisburg students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at Quinnipiac (3.39).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than Quinnipiac (72.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.1% at Quinnipiac vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

Quinnipiac vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Quinnipiac 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).

• Quinnipiac University's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than Penn State Harrisburg's (63%).
• Graduates from Quinnipiac University earn a median of about $10,200 more per year than Penn State Harrisburg graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,500 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Quinnipiac University graduates have a $818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Quinnipiac graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($268 vs. $277).
• More Quinnipiac 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.