Salem College vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Comparable Facts

Compare Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC 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 Salem College based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 549 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Salem College is located in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting); Penn State Harrisburg is in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Salem College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Salem College 9:1; Penn State Harrisburg 15:1.

Salem College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Salem College 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 Salem College than Penn State Harrisburg ($18,668 vs. $23,788).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Salem College are 5.3% lower than at Penn State Harrisburg ($13,710 vs. $14,474).
• Salem College is 111.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $17,876 more per year; $33,848.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 25.6% higher at Salem College than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $6,890 more per year; $33,848.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Salem College than at Penn State Harrisburg (100% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Salem College students is 224.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($30,001 vs. $9,245).

Salem College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Salem College 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 Salem College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Harrisburg (1220) is 70 points higher than at Salem College (1150).
• Incoming Penn State Harrisburg students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 19 at Salem College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Salem College 1066/1243; Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Salem College 16/22; Penn State Harrisburg 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Salem College - Test optional; Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Harrisburg students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at Salem College (3.3).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than Salem College (76.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.9% at Salem College vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

Salem College vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Salem College 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 Salem College's (53%).
• Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg earn a median of about $20,300 more per year than Salem College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $35,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Salem 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 Salem College graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Penn State Harrisburg graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem College students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 53%)

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.