Penn State Harrisburg vs. Tennessee Tech

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Harrisburg in Middletown, PA with Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Tennessee Technological University is larger than Penn State Harrisburg based on total student enrollment (10,511 students vs. 4,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Harrisburg is located in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting); Tennessee Technological University is in Cookeville, TN (Remote Town setting).
• Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Tennessee Technological University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Harrisburg 15:1; Tennessee Technological University 16:1.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. Tennessee Tech Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Harrisburg or Tennessee Tech? 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 Tennessee Technological University than Penn State Harrisburg ($15,336 vs. $23,788).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Tennessee Technological University are 8.1% lower than at Penn State Harrisburg ($13,302 vs. $14,474).
• Penn State Harrisburg is 40.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Tennessee Tech (about $4,596 more per year; $15,972.00 vs. $11,376.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 73.1% higher at Penn State Harrisburg than at Tennessee Technological University (about $11,382 more per year; $26,958.00 vs. $15,576.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Tennessee Technological University than at Penn State Harrisburg (95% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Tennessee Technological University students is 13.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($10,458 vs. $9,245).

Penn State Harrisburg vs. Tennessee Tech Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Harrisburg or Tennessee Tech? 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 Tennessee Tech and Penn State Harrisburg.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Harrisburg (1220) is 40 points higher than at Tennessee Tech (1180).
• Incoming Penn State Harrisburg students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 23 at Tennessee Tech).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310; Tennessee Technological University 1048/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 22/31; Tennessee Technological University 20/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional; Tennessee Tech - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Tennessee Tech Aug 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Tennessee Tech students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.63) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than Tennessee Tech (76.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg vs. 22.8% at Tennessee Tech.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. Tennessee Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Harrisburg and Tennessee Tech? 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).

• Penn State Harrisburg's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Tennessee Technological University's (50%).
• Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg earn a median of about $11,900 more per year than Tennessee Tech graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $43,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Tennessee Technological University graduates have a $10,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($16,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Tennessee Tech graduates have an estimated $112 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($165 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Harrisburg graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tennessee Tech students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 61%)

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.