Southern Polytechnic State University vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Should I go to Southern Polytechnic State University or Penn State Harrisburg? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Southern Polytechnic State 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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Southern Polytechnic State University vs. Penn State Harrisburg comparison
Southern Polytechnic State University Penn State Harrisburg College 3 College 4
Penn State Harrisburg
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Overview

Southern Polytechnic State University Penn State Harrisburg
Location Marietta, Georgia Middletown, PA
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 4,572
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #613
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website spsu.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Southern Polytechnic State University Penn State Harrisburg
Tuition (In State) $4,417 $15,388
Tuition (Out of State) $15,722 $25,854
Room & Board $8,390 $14,978
Avg Net Price $10,562 $22,096
Avg Grant Aid $5,879 $8,882
% Receiving Grant Aid 83% 63%

Admission

Southern Polytechnic State University Penn State Harrisburg
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,535 9,925
Admitted 1,212 9,483
Acceptance Rate 79% 95.5%
Enrolled % 65.2% 12.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.45 3.48
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 22/26 24/28
SAT Range 1110/1300 1100/1310
Submit Test Scores Required Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

Southern Polytechnic State University Penn State Harrisburg
Student to Faculty Ratio 0:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering Technology (40%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (16%)
  • Engineering (6%)
  • Architecture (6%)
  • Business (34%)
  • Engineering (23%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • English and Literature (5%)

Outcomes

Southern Polytechnic State University Penn State Harrisburg
Graduation Rate 34% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) N/A $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments - 69%
Median Student Loan Debt N/A $26,818
Median Loan Payment N/A $277

Diversity

Southern Polytechnic State University Penn State Harrisburg
% Men NaN 60%
% Women NaN 40%
Racial Diversity - High
HBCU No No
% White 0% 59%
% Black 0% 11%
% Hispanic 0% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 3%
% International 0% 10%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

Southern Polytechnic State University Penn State Harrisburg
% In-State - 46%
% Out-of-State - 27%

Campus

Southern Polytechnic State 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

  • Penn State Harrisburg is larger than than Southern Polytechnic State University based on total student enrollment (4,572 students vs. 0 students)

Southern Polytechnic State University vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

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

  • Penn State Harrisburg is 248.4% more expensive to attend than Southern Polytechnic State University for in-state tuition ($15,388.00 vs. $4,417.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 64.4% higher at Penn State Harrisburg than Southern Polytechnic State University ($25,854.00 vs. $15,722.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southern Polytechnic State University than Penn State Harrisburg ($10,562 vs. $22,096)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Polytechnic State University are 78.5% lower than costs at Penn State Harrisburg ($8,390 vs. $14,978)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Polytechnic State University than Penn State Harrisburg (83% vs. 63%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students is 51.1% larger than aid received Southern Polytechnic State University ($8,882 vs. $5,879)

Southern Polytechnic State University vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Southern Polytechnic State 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 Southern Polytechnic State University .

  • Accepted freshman Penn State Harrisburg students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at Southern Polytechnic State University (3.45)
  • Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (95.5%) than Southern Polytechnic State University (79%)

Southern Polytechnic State University vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Southern Polytechnic State 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 Southern Polytechnic State University.

  • The graduation rate at Penn State Harrisburg is higher than Southern Polytechnic State University (63% vs. 34%)

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