UMass Dartmouth vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in North Dartmouth, MA with Penn State Harrisburg in Middletown, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is larger than Penn State Harrisburg based on total student enrollment (7,968 students vs. 4,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is located in North Dartmouth, MA (Midsize Suburban setting); Penn State Harrisburg is in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Massachusetts Dartmouth 16:1; Penn State Harrisburg 15:1.

UMass Dartmouth vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMass Dartmouth 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 of Massachusetts Dartmouth than Penn State Harrisburg ($21,094 vs. $23,788).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 22% lower than at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth ($14,474 vs. $18,566).
• Penn State Harrisburg is 2.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMass Dartmouth (about $360 more per year; $15,972.00 vs. $15,612.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 20.8% higher at UMass Dartmouth than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $5,609 more per year; $32,567.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth than at Penn State Harrisburg (96% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Massachusetts Dartmouth students is 26.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($11,658 vs. $9,245).

UMass Dartmouth vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UMass Dartmouth 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 UMass Dartmouth.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Harrisburg (1220) is 60 points higher than at UMass Dartmouth (1160).
• Incoming UMass Dartmouth students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 26 at Penn State Harrisburg).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Dartmouth 1050/1270; Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Dartmouth 26/30; Penn State Harrisburg 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMass Dartmouth - Test optional; Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Harrisburg students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at UMass Dartmouth (3.37).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than UMass Dartmouth (90.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.5% at UMass Dartmouth vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

UMass Dartmouth vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMass Dartmouth 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).

• Penn State Harrisburg's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's (48%).
• Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg earn a median of about $6,300 more per year than UMass Dartmouth graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $49,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth graduates have a $1,058 lower median loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($25,760 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, UMass Dartmouth graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($266 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Harrisburg graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMass Dartmouth students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 67%)

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.