Penn State Harrisburg vs. Roanoke College

Penn State Harrisburg and Roanoke College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Penn State Harrisburg
Roanoke College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Roanoke College (83.1% admitted vs 97.6%). Typical SAT 1200 vs 1220.
  • Cheaper after aid: Penn State Harrisburg. Average net price is $23,788 vs $26,044 at Roanoke College.
  • Graduation: Penn State Harrisburg 63% vs Roanoke College 69%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Penn State Harrisburg $55,300 vs Roanoke College $51,200 (median).
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Key differences

Penn State Harrisburg Roanoke College
Acceptance rate
Roanoke College more selective
Penn State Harrisburg97.6%
Roanoke College83.1%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Penn State Harrisburg higher
Penn State Harrisburg1120-1310
Roanoke College1090-1300
Average net price
Penn State Harrisburg $2,256 less
Penn State Harrisburg$23,788
Roanoke College$26,044
In-state tuition
Penn State Harrisburg $22,096 less
Penn State Harrisburg$15,972
Roanoke College$38,068
Out-of-state tuition
Penn State Harrisburg $11,110 less
Penn State Harrisburg$26,958
Roanoke College$38,068
Graduation rate
Roanoke College +6 pts
Penn State Harrisburg63%
Roanoke College69%
Median earnings (10 years)
Penn State Harrisburg +$4,100
Penn State Harrisburg$55,300
Roanoke College$51,200

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Penn State Harrisburg 9,316
  • Roanoke College 5,785
  • Admitted
  • Penn State Harrisburg 9,092
  • Roanoke College 4,805
  • Acceptance rate
  • Penn State Harrisburg 97.6%
  • Roanoke College 83.1%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Penn State Harrisburg 11.2%
  • Roanoke College 9.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Penn State Harrisburg 1220
  • Roanoke College 1200
  • Typical ACT score
  • Penn State Harrisburg 26
  • Roanoke College 27
  • Average high school GPA
  • Penn State Harrisburg 3.48
  • Roanoke College 3.56
  • Typical high school grades
  • Penn State Harrisburg B+
  • Roanoke College A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Penn State Harrisburg Difficult
  • Roanoke College Difficult
  • Applicant competition
  • Penn State Harrisburg
  • Roanoke College
  • SAT range
  • Penn State Harrisburg 1120-1310
  • Roanoke College 1090-1300
  • ACT range
  • Penn State Harrisburg 22-31
  • Roanoke College 24-31
  • Submit test scores
  • Penn State Harrisburg Test optional
  • Roanoke College Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Penn State Harrisburg
  • Roanoke College
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Penn State Harrisburg $15,972
  • Roanoke College $38,068
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Penn State Harrisburg $26,958
  • Roanoke College $38,068
  • Room & board
  • Penn State Harrisburg $14,474
  • Roanoke College $15,366
  • Average net price
  • Penn State Harrisburg $23,788
  • Roanoke College $26,044
  • Average grant aid
  • Penn State Harrisburg $9,245
  • Roanoke College $28,188
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Penn State Harrisburg 63%
  • Roanoke College 100%
  • Graduation rate
  • Penn State Harrisburg 63%
  • Roanoke College 69%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Penn State Harrisburg $55,300
  • Roanoke College $51,200
  • Making student loan payments
  • Penn State Harrisburg 69%
  • Roanoke College 75%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Penn State Harrisburg $26,818
  • Roanoke College $27,000
  • Median loan payment
  • Penn State Harrisburg $277
  • Roanoke College $279
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Penn State Harrisburg 15:1
  • Roanoke College 11:1
  • Popular majors
  • Penn State Harrisburg
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (23%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • English and Literature (5%)
  • Roanoke College
    • Business (25%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • History (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Location
  • Penn State Harrisburg Middletown, PA
  • Roanoke College Salem, VA
  • Setting
  • Penn State Harrisburg Large Suburban
  • Roanoke College Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Penn State Harrisburg 4,478
  • Roanoke College 1,804
  • Type
  • Penn State Harrisburg Public 4 Year
  • Roanoke College Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Penn State Harrisburg #574
  • Roanoke College #369

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Harrisburg in Middletown, PA with Roanoke College in Salem, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Penn State Harrisburg is larger than Roanoke College based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 1,804 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Penn State Harrisburg is located in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting); Roanoke College is in Salem, VA (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Roanoke College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Harrisburg 15:1; Roanoke College 11:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 5.8% lower than at Roanoke College ($14,474 vs. $15,366).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 41.2% higher at Roanoke College than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $11,110 more per year; $38,068 vs. $26,958).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Roanoke College than at Penn State Harrisburg (100% vs. 63%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Roanoke College students is 204.9% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($28,188 vs. $9,245).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at Roanoke College than at Penn State Harrisburg (27 vs. 26, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Penn State Harrisburg and Roanoke College.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Roanoke College average a 3.56 high school GPA, 0.08 higher than at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg vs. 9.7% at Roanoke College.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Roanoke College graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Roanoke College graduates ($277 vs. $279).
  • More Roanoke College 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, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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