Penn State Harrisburg vs. Villanova

Comparable Facts

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

Villanova University is larger than Penn State Harrisburg based on total student enrollment (10,041 students vs. 4,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Harrisburg is located in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting); Villanova University is in Villanova, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Villanova University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Harrisburg 15:1; Villanova University 10:1.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. Villanova Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Harrisburg or Villanova? 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 Villanova ($23,788 vs. $37,201).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 18.2% lower than at Villanova University ($14,474 vs. $17,694).
• Villanova University is 324.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Harrisburg (about $51,804 more per year; $67,776.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 151.4% higher at Villanova than at Penn State Harrisburg (about $40,818 more per year; $67,776.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Harrisburg than at Villanova University (63% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Villanova University students is 415% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($47,609 vs. $9,245).

Penn State Harrisburg vs. Villanova Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Villanova University (1450) is 230 points higher than at Penn State Harrisburg (1220).
• Incoming Villanova students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 26 at Penn State Harrisburg).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310; Villanova University 1395/1510.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Harrisburg 22/31; Villanova University 32/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional; Villanova - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Villanova Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Villanova students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than Villanova (27%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg vs. 27.7% at Villanova.

Penn State Harrisburg vs. Villanova Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Villanova University's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Penn State Harrisburg's (63%).
• Graduates from Villanova University earn a median of about $29,800 more per year than Penn State Harrisburg graduates about ten years after starting college ($85,100 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Villanova University graduates have a $321 lower median loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($26,497 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Villanova graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($273 vs. $277).
• More Villanova graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg students, three years after graduation. (90% 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.