WPI vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Comparable Facts

Compare Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, MA with Penn State Harrisburg in Middletown, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute is larger than Penn State Harrisburg based on total student enrollment (7,584 students vs. 4,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute is located in Worcester, MA (Midsize City setting); Penn State Harrisburg is in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Worcester Polytechnic Institute 13:1; Penn State Harrisburg 15:1.

WPI vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WPI 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 Penn State Harrisburg than WPI ($23,788 vs. $47,372).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 21.3% lower than at Worcester Polytechnic Institute ($14,474 vs. $18,386).
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute is 281.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $44,993 more per year; $60,965.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 126.1% higher at WPI than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $34,007 more per year; $60,965.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Worcester Polytechnic Institute than at Penn State Harrisburg (100% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Worcester Polytechnic Institute students is 241.2% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($31,545 vs. $9,245).

WPI vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WPI 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 WPI.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPenn State Harrisburg 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPenn State Harrisburg 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WPI - Test-free; Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: WPI Feb 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman WPI students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than WPI (60.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.1% at WPI vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

WPI vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WPI 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).

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than Penn State Harrisburg's (63%).
• Graduates from Worcester Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $27,400 more per year than Penn State Harrisburg graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,700 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than WPI graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WPI graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More WPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (92% 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.