Alvernia University vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Should I go to Alvernia University or Penn State Harrisburg? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Alvernia University or Penn State Harrisburg is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Alvernia University vs. Penn State Harrisburg comparison
Alvernia University Penn State Harrisburg College 3 College 4
Alvernia University Penn State Harrisburg
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Overview

Alvernia University Penn State Harrisburg
Location Reading, PA Middletown, PA
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 2,484 4,572
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #739 #613
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website alvernia.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Alvernia University Penn State Harrisburg
Tuition (In State) $39,100 $15,388
Tuition (Out of State) $39,100 $25,854
Room & Board $14,030 $14,978
Avg Net Price $27,091 $22,096
Avg Grant Aid $25,757 $8,882
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 63%

Admission

Alvernia University Penn State Harrisburg
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,703 9,925
Admitted 3,365 9,483
Acceptance Rate 59% 95.5%
Enrolled % 14.8% 12.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.41 3.48
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 24/28
SAT Range 996/1170 1100/1310
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

Academics

Alvernia University Penn State Harrisburg
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (33%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Business (34%)
  • Engineering (23%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • English and Literature (5%)

Outcomes

Alvernia University Penn State Harrisburg
Graduation Rate 53% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,800 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 61% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $279 $277

Diversity

Alvernia University Penn State Harrisburg
% Men 35% 60%
% Women 65% 40%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 69% 59%
% Black 13% 11%
% Hispanic 7% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 3%
% International 0% 10%
% Unknown Race 7% 2%

Students

Alvernia University Penn State Harrisburg
% In-State 72% 46%
% Out-of-State 25% 27%

Campus

Alvernia University Penn State Harrisburg
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Penn State Harrisburg is larger than than Alvernia University based on total student enrollment (4,572 students vs. 2,484 students)

Alvernia University vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alvernia University or Penn State Harrisburg?

  • Alvernia University is 154.1% more expensive to attend than Penn State Harrisburg for in-state tuition ($39,100.00 vs. $15,388.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 51.2% higher at Alvernia University than Penn State Harrisburg ($39,100.00 vs. $25,854.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Harrisburg than Alvernia University ($22,096 vs. $27,091)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Alvernia University are 6.8% lower than costs at Penn State Harrisburg ($14,030 vs. $14,978)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Alvernia University than Penn State Harrisburg (100% vs. 63%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Alvernia University students is 190% larger than aid received Penn State Harrisburg ($25,757 vs. $8,882)

Alvernia University vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Alvernia University 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 Alvernia University .

  • The average SAT score at Penn State Harrisburg (1043) is 45 points higher than at Alvernia University (998)
  • Incoming Penn State Harrisburg students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Alvernia University (22)
  • Accepted freshman Penn State Harrisburg students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at Alvernia University (3.41)
  • Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (95.5%) than Alvernia University (59%)

Alvernia University vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Alvernia University 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 Alvernia University.

  • The graduation rate at Penn State Harrisburg is higher than Alvernia University (63% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg earn on average $10,500 more per year than Alvernia University graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $44,800)
  • Penn State Harrisburg students graduate with a $182 lower median federal student loan debt than Alvernia University graduates. ($26,818 vs. $27,000)
  • Penn State Harrisburg graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Alvernia University graduates. ($277 vs. $279)
  • More Penn State Harrisburg graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Alvernia University students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 61%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/