Penn State Harrisburg vs. HSC- Hampden-Sydney

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Harrisburg in Middletown, PA with Hampden Sydney College in Hampden-Sydney, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Harrisburg is larger than HSC- Hampden-Sydney based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 946 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Harrisburg is located in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting); Hampden Sydney College is in Hampden-Sydney, VA (Distant Rural setting).
• Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Hampden Sydney College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Harrisburg 15:1; Hampden Sydney College 9:1.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. HSC- Hampden-Sydney Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Harrisburg or HSC- Hampden-Sydney? 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 HSC- Hampden-Sydney ($23,788 vs. $29,717).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 13.5% lower than at Hampden Sydney College ($14,474 vs. $16,732).
• Hampden Sydney College is 241.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $38,578 more per year; $54,550.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 102.4% higher at HSC- Hampden-Sydney than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $27,592 more per year; $54,550.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hampden Sydney College than at Penn State Harrisburg (100% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Hampden Sydney College students is 340.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($40,720 vs. $9,245).

Penn State Harrisburg vs. HSC- Hampden-Sydney Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Harrisburg or HSC- Hampden-Sydney? 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 HSC- Hampden-Sydney and Penn State Harrisburg.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Harrisburg (1220) is 80 points higher than at HSC- Hampden-Sydney (1140).
• Incoming Penn State Harrisburg students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 25 at HSC- Hampden-Sydney).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310; Hampden Sydney College 1030/1250.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 22/31; Hampden Sydney College 23/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional; HSC- Hampden-Sydney - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: HSC- Hampden-Sydney Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman HSC- Hampden-Sydney students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than HSC- Hampden-Sydney (40.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg vs. 22.8% at HSC- Hampden-Sydney.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. HSC- Hampden-Sydney Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Harrisburg and HSC- Hampden-Sydney? 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).

• Hampden Sydney College's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than Penn State Harrisburg's (63%).
• Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg earn a median of about $1,300 more per year than HSC- Hampden-Sydney graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $54,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than HSC- Hampden-Sydney graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HSC- Hampden-Sydney graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More HSC- Hampden-Sydney graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (75% 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.