Bentley vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Bentley University and Penn State Harrisburg side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Bentley University
Penn State Harrisburg

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Bentley (45.1% admitted vs 97.6%). Typical SAT 1360 vs 1220.
  • Cheaper after aid: Penn State Harrisburg. Average net price is $23,788 vs $45,802 at Bentley.
  • Graduation: Bentley 88% vs Penn State Harrisburg 63%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Bentley $87,200 vs Penn State Harrisburg $55,300 (median).
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Key differences

Bentley University Penn State Harrisburg
Acceptance rate
Bentley more selective
Bentley45.1%
Penn State Harrisburg97.6%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Bentley higher
Bentley1280-1430
Penn State Harrisburg1120-1310
Average net price
Penn State Harrisburg $22,014 less
Bentley$45,802
Penn State Harrisburg$23,788
In-state tuition
Penn State Harrisburg $45,028 less
Bentley$61,000
Penn State Harrisburg$15,972
Out-of-state tuition
Penn State Harrisburg $34,042 less
Bentley$61,000
Penn State Harrisburg$26,958
Graduation rate
Bentley +25 pts
Bentley88%
Penn State Harrisburg63%
Median earnings (10 years)
Bentley +$31,900
Bentley$87,200
Penn State Harrisburg$55,300

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Bentley 11,012
  • Penn State Harrisburg 9,316
  • Admitted
  • Bentley 4,961
  • Penn State Harrisburg 9,092
  • Acceptance rate
  • Bentley 45.1%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 97.6%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Bentley 21.3%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 11.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Bentley 1360
  • Penn State Harrisburg 1220
  • Typical ACT score
  • Bentley 29
  • Penn State Harrisburg 26
  • Average high school GPA
  • Bentley 3.75
  • Penn State Harrisburg 3.48
  • Typical high school grades
  • Bentley A-
  • Penn State Harrisburg B+
  • Admissions standards
  • Bentley Very High
  • Penn State Harrisburg Difficult
  • Applicant competition
  • Bentley Low
  • Penn State Harrisburg
  • SAT range
  • Bentley 1280-1430
  • Penn State Harrisburg 1120-1310
  • ACT range
  • Bentley 28-31
  • Penn State Harrisburg 22-31
  • Submit test scores
  • Bentley Test optional
  • Penn State Harrisburg Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Bentley Jan 15, 2027
  • Penn State Harrisburg
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Bentley $61,000
  • Penn State Harrisburg $15,972
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Bentley $61,000
  • Penn State Harrisburg $26,958
  • Room & board
  • Bentley $20,140
  • Penn State Harrisburg $14,474
  • Average net price
  • Bentley $45,802
  • Penn State Harrisburg $23,788
  • Average grant aid
  • Bentley $33,673
  • Penn State Harrisburg $9,245
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Bentley 88%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 63%
  • Graduation rate
  • Bentley 88%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 63%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Bentley $87,200
  • Penn State Harrisburg $55,300
  • Making student loan payments
  • Bentley 92%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 69%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Bentley $26,500
  • Penn State Harrisburg $26,818
  • Median loan payment
  • Bentley $274
  • Penn State Harrisburg $277
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Bentley 12:1
  • Penn State Harrisburg 15:1
  • Popular majors
  • Bentley
    • Business (83%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (3%)
    • Mathematics (1%)
    • General Studies (1%)
  • Penn State Harrisburg
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (23%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • English and Literature (5%)
  • Location
  • Bentley Waltham, MA
  • Penn State Harrisburg Middletown, PA
  • Setting
  • Bentley Small City
  • Penn State Harrisburg Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Bentley 5,333
  • Penn State Harrisburg 4,478
  • Type
  • Bentley Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Harrisburg Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Bentley #107
  • Penn State Harrisburg #574

Comparable Facts

Compare Bentley University in Waltham, MA with Penn State Harrisburg in Middletown, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Bentley University is larger than Penn State Harrisburg based on total student enrollment (5,333 students vs. 4,478 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bentley University is located in Waltham, MA (Small City setting); Penn State Harrisburg is in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Bentley University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bentley University 12:1; Penn State Harrisburg 15:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 28.1% lower than at Bentley University ($14,474 vs. $20,140).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 126.3% higher at Bentley than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $34,042 more per year; $61,000 vs. $26,958).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bentley University than at Penn State Harrisburg (88% vs. 63%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bentley University students is 264.2% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($33,673 vs. $9,245).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 3 points higher at Bentley than at Penn State Harrisburg (29 vs. 26, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Bentley and Penn State Harrisburg.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bentley Jan 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Bentley average a 3.75 high school GPA, 0.27 higher than at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.3% at Bentley vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Bentley University graduates have a $318 lower median loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($26,500 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Bentley graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($274 vs. $277).
  • More Bentley 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, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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