UB vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Deciding between University at Buffalo and Penn State Harrisburg? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University at Buffalo
Penn State Harrisburg

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UB Buffalo, NY
  • Penn State Harrisburg Middletown, PA
  • Setting
  • UB Large Suburban
  • Penn State Harrisburg Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UB 31,903
  • Penn State Harrisburg 4,478
  • Type
  • UB Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Harrisburg Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UB #101
  • Penn State Harrisburg #574
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UB -
  • Penn State Harrisburg -
  • Status
  • UB Non-profit
  • Penn State Harrisburg Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UB
  • Penn State Harrisburg

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UB $10,936
  • Penn State Harrisburg $15,972
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UB $31,536
  • Penn State Harrisburg $26,958
  • Room & Board
  • UB $17,426
  • Penn State Harrisburg $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • UB $20,529
  • Penn State Harrisburg $23,788
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UB $10,663
  • Penn State Harrisburg $9,245
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UB 76%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 63%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UB 40,856
  • Penn State Harrisburg 9,316
  • Admitted
  • UB 30,308
  • Penn State Harrisburg 9,092
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UB 74.2%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 97.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UB 14.1%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 11.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UB 1300
  • Penn State Harrisburg 1220
  • Typical ACT score
  • UB 29
  • Penn State Harrisburg 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • UB 3.75
  • Penn State Harrisburg 3.48
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UB A-
  • Penn State Harrisburg B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UB Very High
  • Penn State Harrisburg Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UB Low
  • Penn State Harrisburg
  • ACT Range
  • UB 27/32
  • Penn State Harrisburg 22/31
  • SAT Range
  • UB 1210/1380
  • Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UB Test optional
  • Penn State Harrisburg Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UB
  • Penn State Harrisburg

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UB 11:1
  • Penn State Harrisburg 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UB
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • Penn State Harrisburg
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (23%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • English and Literature (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UB 71%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UB $58,400
  • Penn State Harrisburg $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UB 70%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UB $19,500
  • Penn State Harrisburg $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UB $201
  • Penn State Harrisburg $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UB 51%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 58%
  • % Women
  • UB 49%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 42%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UB High
  • Penn State Harrisburg High
  • HBCU
  • UB No
  • Penn State Harrisburg No
  • % White
  • UB 48%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 59%
  • % Asian
  • UB 14%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 9%
  • % Black
  • UB 7%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • UB 6%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 6%
  • % Native American
  • UB 0%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UB 0%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UB 2%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 3%
  • % International
  • UB 16%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UB 5%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UB 88%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 54%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UB 3%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 27%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UB Yes
  • Penn State Harrisburg Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UB No
  • Penn State Harrisburg No
  • Meal Plan
  • UB Yes
  • Penn State Harrisburg Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UB No
  • Penn State Harrisburg Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • UB Yes
  • Penn State Harrisburg Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare University at Buffalo in Buffalo, NY with Penn State Harrisburg in Middletown, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University at Buffalo is larger than Penn State Harrisburg based on total student enrollment (31,903 students vs. 4,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

UB vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UB 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 University at Buffalo than Penn State Harrisburg ($20,529 vs. $23,788).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 16.9% lower than at University at Buffalo ($14,474 vs. $17,426).
  • Penn State Harrisburg is 46% more expensive for in-state tuition than UB (about $5,036 more per year; $15,972.00 vs. $10,936.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 17% higher at UB than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $4,578 more per year; $31,536.00 vs. $26,958.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University at Buffalo than at Penn State Harrisburg (76% vs. 63%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University at Buffalo students is 15.3% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($10,663 vs. $9,245).

UB vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UB 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 UB.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University at Buffalo (1300) is 80 points higher than at Penn State Harrisburg (1220).
  • Incoming UB 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: University at Buffalo 1210/1380; Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University at Buffalo 27/32; Penn State Harrisburg 22/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UB - Test optional; Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman UB 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 UB (74.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.1% at UB vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

UB vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UB 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).

  • University at Buffalo's six-year graduation rate (71%) is higher than Penn State Harrisburg's (63%).
  • Graduates from University at Buffalo earn a median of about $3,100 more per year than Penn State Harrisburg graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,400 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University at Buffalo graduates have a $7,318 lower median loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($19,500 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, UB graduates have an estimated $76 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($201 vs. $277).
  • More UB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (70% 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.