Sarah Lawrence vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Comparable Facts

Compare Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, 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 Sarah Lawrence based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 1,798 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sarah Lawrence College is located in Bronxville, NY (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Harrisburg is in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Sarah Lawrence College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sarah Lawrence College 10:1; Penn State Harrisburg 15:1.

Sarah Lawrence vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Sarah Lawrence 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 Sarah Lawrence ($23,788 vs. $43,629).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 21.4% lower than at Sarah Lawrence College ($14,474 vs. $18,426).
• Sarah Lawrence College is 318.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $50,890 more per year; $66,862.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 148% higher at Sarah Lawrence than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $39,904 more per year; $66,862.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sarah Lawrence College than at Penn State Harrisburg (90% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sarah Lawrence College students is 320.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($38,838 vs. $9,245).

Sarah Lawrence vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Sarah Lawrence 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 Sarah Lawrence.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Sarah Lawrence College (1340) is 120 points higher than at Penn State Harrisburg (1220).
• Incoming Sarah Lawrence students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 26 at Penn State Harrisburg).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sarah Lawrence College 1240/1430; Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sarah Lawrence College 28/31; Penn State Harrisburg 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Sarah Lawrence - Test optional; Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Sarah Lawrence Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Sarah Lawrence students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than Sarah Lawrence (61.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.6% at Sarah Lawrence vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

Sarah Lawrence vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Sarah Lawrence 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).

• Sarah Lawrence College's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than Penn State Harrisburg's (63%).
• Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg earn a median of about $11,200 more per year than Sarah Lawrence graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $44,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sarah Lawrence College graduates have a $13,318 lower median loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($13,500 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Sarah Lawrence graduates have an estimated $138 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($139 vs. $277).
• More Sarah Lawrence graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (83% 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.