JCU vs. Penn State Harrisburg

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

John Carroll University
Penn State Harrisburg

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: JCU (80.9% admitted vs 97.6%). Typical SAT 1260 vs 1220.
  • Cheaper after aid: Penn State Harrisburg. Average net price is $23,788 vs $30,030 at JCU.
  • Graduation: JCU 71% vs Penn State Harrisburg 63%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: JCU $57,600 vs Penn State Harrisburg $55,300 (median).
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Key differences

John Carroll University Penn State Harrisburg
Acceptance rate
JCU more selective
JCU80.9%
Penn State Harrisburg97.6%
SAT range (middle 50%)
JCU higher
JCU1180-1330
Penn State Harrisburg1120-1310
Average net price
Penn State Harrisburg $6,242 less
JCU$30,030
Penn State Harrisburg$23,788
In-state tuition
Penn State Harrisburg $34,528 less
JCU$50,500
Penn State Harrisburg$15,972
Out-of-state tuition
Penn State Harrisburg $23,542 less
JCU$50,500
Penn State Harrisburg$26,958
Graduation rate
JCU +8 pts
JCU71%
Penn State Harrisburg63%
Median earnings (10 years)
JCU +$2,300
JCU$57,600
Penn State Harrisburg$55,300

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • JCU 4,623
  • Penn State Harrisburg 9,316
  • Admitted
  • JCU 3,740
  • Penn State Harrisburg 9,092
  • Acceptance rate
  • JCU 80.9%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 97.6%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • JCU 15.9%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 11.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • JCU 1260
  • Penn State Harrisburg 1220
  • Typical ACT score
  • JCU 28
  • Penn State Harrisburg 26
  • Average high school GPA
  • JCU 3.66
  • Penn State Harrisburg 3.48
  • Typical high school grades
  • JCU A-
  • Penn State Harrisburg B+
  • Admissions standards
  • JCU Difficult
  • Penn State Harrisburg Difficult
  • Applicant competition
  • JCU
  • Penn State Harrisburg
  • SAT range
  • JCU 1180-1330
  • Penn State Harrisburg 1120-1310
  • ACT range
  • JCU 25-32
  • Penn State Harrisburg 22-31
  • Submit test scores
  • JCU Test optional
  • Penn State Harrisburg Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • JCU
  • Penn State Harrisburg
  • Tuition (in state)
  • JCU $50,500
  • Penn State Harrisburg $15,972
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • JCU $50,500
  • Penn State Harrisburg $26,958
  • Room & board
  • JCU $14,520
  • Penn State Harrisburg $14,474
  • Average net price
  • JCU $30,030
  • Penn State Harrisburg $23,788
  • Average grant aid
  • JCU $35,785
  • Penn State Harrisburg $9,245
  • % receiving grant aid
  • JCU 100%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 63%
  • Graduation rate
  • JCU 71%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 63%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • JCU $57,600
  • Penn State Harrisburg $55,300
  • Making student loan payments
  • JCU 74%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 69%
  • Median student loan debt
  • JCU $26,939
  • Penn State Harrisburg $26,818
  • Median loan payment
  • JCU $278
  • Penn State Harrisburg $277
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • JCU 13:1
  • Penn State Harrisburg 15:1
  • Popular majors
  • JCU
    • Business (34%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Education (9%)
  • Penn State Harrisburg
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (23%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • English and Literature (5%)
  • Location
  • JCU University Heights, OH
  • Penn State Harrisburg Middletown, PA
  • Setting
  • JCU Large Suburban
  • Penn State Harrisburg Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • JCU 2,864
  • Penn State Harrisburg 4,478
  • Type
  • JCU Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Harrisburg Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • JCU #222
  • Penn State Harrisburg #574

Comparable Facts

Compare John Carroll University in University Heights, OH with Penn State Harrisburg in Middletown, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Penn State Harrisburg is larger than JCU based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 2,864 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • John Carroll University is located in University Heights, OH (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Harrisburg is in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • John Carroll University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: John Carroll University 13:1; Penn State Harrisburg 15:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 0.3% lower than at John Carroll University ($14,474 vs. $14,520).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 87.3% higher at JCU than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $23,542 more per year; $50,500 vs. $26,958).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at John Carroll University than at Penn State Harrisburg (100% vs. 63%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by John Carroll University students is 287.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($35,785 vs. $9,245).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at JCU than at Penn State Harrisburg (28 vs. 26, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both JCU and Penn State Harrisburg.
  • Enrolled first-year students at JCU average a 3.66 high school GPA, 0.18 higher than at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.9% at JCU vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have a $121 lower median loan debt than JCU graduates ($26,818 vs. $26,939).
  • Among borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than JCU graduates ($277 vs. $278).
  • More JCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation (74% 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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