Metropolitan State University vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Should I go to Metropolitan State University or Penn State Harrisburg? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Metropolitan State 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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Metropolitan State University vs. Penn State Harrisburg comparison
Metropolitan State University Penn State Harrisburg College 3 College 4
Metropolitan State University Penn State Harrisburg
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Overview

Metropolitan State University Penn State Harrisburg
Location Saint Paul, MN Middletown, PA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 6,294 4,572
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #613
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website metrostate.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Metropolitan State University Penn State Harrisburg
Tuition (In State) $8,571 $15,388
Tuition (Out of State) $8,571 $25,854
Room & Board $11,644 $14,978
Avg Net Price $19,347 $22,096
Avg Grant Aid $8,322 $8,882
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 63%

Admission

Metropolitan State University Penn State Harrisburg
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 612 9,925
Admitted 500 9,483
Acceptance Rate 81.7% 95.5%
Enrolled % 26.2% 12.6%
Avg High School GPA - 3.48
Typical High School Grades - B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 24/28
SAT Range 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 Aug 1, 2024

Academics

Metropolitan State University Penn State Harrisburg
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (33%)
  • General Studies (13%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Business (34%)
  • Engineering (23%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • English and Literature (5%)

Outcomes

Metropolitan State University Penn State Harrisburg
Graduation Rate 29% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,200 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 57% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,992 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $186 $277

Diversity

Metropolitan State University Penn State Harrisburg
% Men 42% 60%
% Women 58% 40%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 54% 59%
% Black 20% 11%
% Hispanic 5% 6%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 2% 10%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

Metropolitan State University Penn State Harrisburg
% In-State 99% 46%
% Out-of-State 1% 27%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Metropolitan State University is larger than than Penn State Harrisburg based on total student enrollment (6,294 students vs. 4,572 students)

Metropolitan State University vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

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

  • Penn State Harrisburg is 79.5% more expensive to attend than Metropolitan State University for in-state tuition ($15,388.00 vs. $8,571.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 201.6% higher at Penn State Harrisburg than Metropolitan State University ($25,854.00 vs. $8,571.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Metropolitan State University than Penn State Harrisburg ($19,347 vs. $22,096)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Metropolitan State University are 28.6% lower than costs at Penn State Harrisburg ($11,644 vs. $14,978)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Metropolitan State University than Penn State Harrisburg (100% vs. 63%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students is 6.7% larger than aid received Metropolitan State University ($8,882 vs. $8,322)

Metropolitan State University vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Metropolitan State 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 Metropolitan State University .

  • Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (95.5%) than Metropolitan State University (81.7%)

Metropolitan State University vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Metropolitan State 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 Metropolitan State University.

  • The graduation rate at Penn State Harrisburg is higher than Metropolitan State University (63% vs. 29%)
  • Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg earn on average $6,100 more per year than Metropolitan State University graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $49,200)
  • Metropolitan State University students graduate with a $8,826 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates. ($17,992 vs. $26,818)
  • Metropolitan State University graduates are paying $91 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Harrisburg graduates. ($186 vs. $277)
  • More Penn State Harrisburg graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Metropolitan State University students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 57%)

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