Simmons University vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Should I go to Simmons University or Penn State Harrisburg? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Simmons University or Penn State Harrisburg is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Simmons University vs. Penn State Harrisburg comparison
Simmons University Penn State Harrisburg College 3 College 4
Simmons University Penn State Harrisburg
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Overview

Simmons University Penn State Harrisburg
Location Boston, MA Middletown, PA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 5,710 4,572
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #108 #613
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website simmons.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Simmons University Penn State Harrisburg
Tuition (In State) $43,060 $15,388
Tuition (Out of State) $43,060 $25,854
Room & Board $16,368 $14,978
Avg Net Price $24,423 $22,096
Avg Grant Aid $36,606 $8,882
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 63%

Admission

Simmons University Penn State Harrisburg
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,001 9,925
Admitted 3,059 9,483
Acceptance Rate 76.5% 95.5%
Enrolled % 12.8% 12.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.87 3.48
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 28/32 24/28
SAT Range 1200/1390 1100/1310
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2025

Academics

Simmons University Penn State Harrisburg
Student to Faculty Ratio 7:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (37%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Business (6%)
  • Business (34%)
  • Engineering (23%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • English and Literature (5%)

Outcomes

Simmons University Penn State Harrisburg
Graduation Rate 69% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $52,800 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $268 $277

Diversity

Simmons University Penn State Harrisburg
% Men 8% 60%
% Women 92% 40%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 67% 59%
% Black 7% 11%
% Hispanic 6% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 3% 10%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

Simmons University Penn State Harrisburg
% In-State 52% 46%
% Out-of-State 41% 27%

Campus

Simmons University Penn State Harrisburg
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Simmons University is larger than than Penn State Harrisburg based on total student enrollment (5,710 students vs. 4,572 students)

Simmons University vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Simmons University or Penn State Harrisburg?

  • Simmons University is 179.8% more expensive to attend than Penn State Harrisburg for in-state tuition ($43,060.00 vs. $15,388.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 66.6% higher at Simmons University than Penn State Harrisburg ($43,060.00 vs. $25,854.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Harrisburg than Simmons University ($22,096 vs. $24,423)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 9.3% lower than costs at Simmons University ($14,978 vs. $16,368)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Simmons University than Penn State Harrisburg (100% vs. 63%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Simmons University students is 312.1% larger than aid received Penn State Harrisburg ($36,606 vs. $8,882)

Simmons University vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Simmons University or Penn State Harrisburg? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State Harrisburg or Simmons University .

  • The average SAT score at Simmons University (1163) is 120 points higher than at Penn State Harrisburg (1043)
  • Incoming Simmons University students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (23)
  • Accepted freshman Simmons University students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48)
  • Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (95.5%) than Simmons University (76.5%)

Simmons University vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Simmons University or Penn State Harrisburg? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Penn State Harrisburg and Simmons University.

  • The graduation rate at Simmons University is higher than Penn State Harrisburg (69% vs. 63%)
  • Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg earn on average $2,500 more per year than Simmons University graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $52,800)
  • Simmons University students graduate with a $818 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates. ($26,000 vs. $26,818)
  • Simmons University graduates are paying $9 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Harrisburg graduates. ($268 vs. $277)
  • More Simmons University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/