UHart vs. Penn State

Deciding between University of Hartford and Penn State Main Campus? 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 of Hartford
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UHart West Hartford, CT
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • UHart Midsize City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UHart 6,015
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • UHart Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UHart #426
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UHart -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • UHart Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UHart
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UHart $49,075
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UHart $49,075
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • UHart $14,532
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • UHart $31,261
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UHart $33,446
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UHart 100%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UHart 12,221
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • UHart 11,701
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UHart 95.7%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UHart 10%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UHart 1220
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • UHart 27
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • UHart 3.26
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UHart B+
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • UHart Difficult
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UHart
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • UHart 24/30
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • UHart 1120/1310
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UHart Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UHart
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UHart 11:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UHart
    • Visual and Performing Arts (17%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (14%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (7%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UHart 56%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UHart $49,600
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UHart 70%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UHart $27,000
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UHart $279
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UHart 40%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • UHart 60%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UHart High
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • UHart No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • UHart 56%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • UHart 3%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • UHart 16%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UHart 12%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • UHart 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UHart 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UHart 3%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • UHart 6%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UHart 4%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UHart 52%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UHart 46%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Hartford in West Hartford, CT with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than UHart based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 6,015 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Hartford is located in West Hartford, CT (Midsize City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • University of Hartford is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Hartford 11:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

UHart vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UHart or Penn State? 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 Main Campus than UHart ($27,889 vs. $31,261).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 0.4% lower than at University of Hartford ($14,474 vs. $14,532).
  • University of Hartford is 137.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $28,431 more per year; $49,075.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 17.4% higher at UHart than at Penn State Main Campus (about $7,285 more per year; $49,075.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Hartford than at Penn State Main Campus (100% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Hartford students is 195% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($33,446 vs. $11,336).

UHart vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UHart or Penn State? 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 and UHart.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 110 points higher than at UHart (1220).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 27 at UHart).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Hartford 1120/1310; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Hartford 24/30; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UHart - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • UHart has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10% at UHart vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

UHart vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UHart and Penn State? 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 Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than University of Hartford's (56%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $5,700 more per year than UHart graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $49,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Main Campus graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than UHart graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Penn State graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UHart graduates ($277 vs. $279).
  • More UHart graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State 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.