Penn State Harrisburg vs. Pitt

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Harrisburg in Middletown, PA with University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in Pittsburgh, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is larger than Penn State Harrisburg based on total student enrollment (35,724 students vs. 4,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Harrisburg is located in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting); University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting).
• Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Harrisburg 15:1; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 13:1.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. Pitt Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Harrisburg or Pitt? 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 Pitt ($23,788 vs. $25,223).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus are 5.9% lower than at Penn State Harrisburg ($13,620 vs. $14,474).
• University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is 37.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $5,954 more per year; $21,926.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 53.7% higher at Pitt than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $14,472 more per year; $41,430.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Harrisburg than at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (63% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus students is 78.4% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($16,494 vs. $9,245).

Penn State Harrisburg vs. Pitt Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (1370) is 150 points higher than at Penn State Harrisburg (1220).
• Incoming Pitt students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 26 at Penn State Harrisburg).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 1280/1460.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 22/31; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 29/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Harrisburg - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Pitt - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
• Accepted freshman Pitt students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than Pitt (58.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg vs. 13% at Pitt.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. Pitt Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than Penn State Harrisburg's (63%).
• Graduates from University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of about $2,700 more per year than Penn State Harrisburg graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have a $91 lower median loan debt than Pitt graduates ($26,818 vs. $26,909).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Harrisburg graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pitt graduates ($277 vs. $278).
• More Pitt 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.