Fisher vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Comparable Facts

Compare St. John Fisher University in Rochester, NY 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 Fisher based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 3,693 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• St. John Fisher University is located in Rochester, NY (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Harrisburg is in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• St. John Fisher University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: St. John Fisher University 11:1; Penn State Harrisburg 15:1.

Fisher vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fisher 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 Fisher ($23,788 vs. $30,540).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 2.9% lower than at St. John Fisher University ($14,474 vs. $14,908).
• St. John Fisher University is 157.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $25,218 more per year; $41,190.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 52.8% higher at Fisher than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $14,232 more per year; $41,190.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at St. John Fisher University than at Penn State Harrisburg (100% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by St. John Fisher University students is 165.3% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($24,530 vs. $9,245).

Fisher vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Fisher 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 Fisher.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Harrisburg (1220) is 10 points higher than at Fisher (1210).
• Incoming Penn State Harrisburg students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 25 at Fisher).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: St. John Fisher University 1120/1300; Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: St. John Fisher University 23/28; Penn State Harrisburg 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Fisher - Test optional; Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Fisher students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than Fisher (66.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.3% at Fisher vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

Fisher vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fisher 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).

• St. John Fisher University's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than Penn State Harrisburg's (63%).
• Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg earn a median of about $4,500 more per year than Fisher graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $50,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, St. John Fisher University graduates have a $2,918 lower median loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($23,900 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Fisher graduates have an estimated $30 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($247 vs. $277).
• More Fisher graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (74% 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.