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UConn UVM Penn State Rutgers UMass Dartmouth BU UD University of Massachusetts-Lowell Binghamton University Northeastern Penn State Erie-Behrend College Purdue| University of Massachusetts Amherst | Penn State Harrisburg | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
UMass | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
| Location | Amherst, MA | Middletown, PA | ||
| Setting | Town Fringe | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 31,810 | 4,651 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #176 | #595 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | umass.edu | psu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
UMass | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $16,591 | $15,388 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $38,527 | $26,112 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,869 | $15,870 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,954 | $22,406 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $12,343 | $8,421 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 75% | 54% |
Admission |
UMass | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 50,424 | 10,296 | ||
| Admitted | 29,129 | 9,924 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 57.8% | 96.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.1% | 12.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.99 | 3.48 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 29/33 | 26/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1300/1480 | 1110/1320 | ||
| 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 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
UMass | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
UMass | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
| Graduation Rate | 67% | 63% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $55,200 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 76% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,000 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $248 | $277 |
Diversity |
UMass | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 12% | 5% | ||
| % Women | 12% | 6% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 67% | 59% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 11% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 4% | 10% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 8% | 2% |
Students |
UMass | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 67% | 46% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 23% | 27% | ||
Campus |
UMass | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Massachusetts Amherst is larger than than Penn State Harrisburg based on total student enrollment (31,810 students vs. 4,651 students)
UMass vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, UMass or Penn State Harrisburg?
- University of Massachusetts Amherst is 7.8% more expensive to attend than Penn State Harrisburg for in-state tuition ($16,591.00 vs. $15,388.00)
- Out of state tuition is 47.5% higher at UMass than Penn State Harrisburg ($38,527.00 vs. $26,112.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Harrisburg than UMass ($22,406 vs. $22,954)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Amherst are 6.7% lower than costs at Penn State Harrisburg ($14,869 vs. $15,870)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Massachusetts Amherst than Penn State Harrisburg (75% vs. 54%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Massachusetts Amherst students is 46.6% larger than aid received Penn State Harrisburg ($12,343 vs. $8,421)
UMass vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, UMass 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 UMass .
- The average SAT score at University of Massachusetts Amherst (1226) is 183 points higher than at Penn State Harrisburg (1043)
- Incoming UMass students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (23)
- Accepted freshman UMass students have a 0.51 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48)
- Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (96.4%) than UMass (57.8%)
UMass vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, UMass 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 UMass.
- The graduation rate at UMass is higher than Penn State Harrisburg (67% vs. 63%)
- Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg earn on average $100 more per year than UMass graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $55,200)
- University of Massachusetts Amherst students graduate with a $2,818 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates. ($24,000 vs. $26,818)
- UMass graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Harrisburg graduates. ($248 vs. $277)
- More UMass graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/