Overview of Penn State Harrisburg

Penn State Harrisburg is a public institution situated in Mediantown, Pennsylvania. The institution offers over 65-degree programs, mostly at the bachelor’s and master’s levels. The institution has a large selection of 160 undergraduate degree programs for students to choose from. A robust student/faculty ratio backs students, and professors take a personalized approach to the teaching and learning process. Outside of the classroom, students will find plenty of opportunities to engage with the campus community via the university’s more than 50 clubs and organizations. The Penn State Harrisburg Lions play in the NCAA Division III Capital Athletic Conference.

Enrollment

• Total Enrollment: 4,933 (4,191 undergraduates)
• Gender Breakdown: 61% Male/39% Female
• 93% Full-time

Cost of Attendance Information

• Tuition and Fees: $15,198 (in-state); $24,450 (out-of-state)
• Books: $1,840
• Room and Board: $11,570
• Other Expenses: $4,788
• Total Cost: $33,396(in-state); $42,648 (out-of-state)

Financial Aid Information

• Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 73%
• Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
  • Grants: 61%
  • Loans: 51%
• Mean Amount of Aid
  • Grants: $6,147
  • Loans: $6,886

Academic Programs Offered

• Most Popular Majors: Business Administration, Finance, Mechanical Engineering, Nursing, Psychology

Retention and Graduation

• First-Year Student Retention (full-time students): 86%
• 4-Year Graduation Rate: 40%
• 6-Year Graduation Rate: 63%

NCAA Athletic Programs

• Men’s Sports: Soccer, Tennis, Basketball, Baseball, Track and Field, Golf
• Women’s Sports: Cross Country, Softball, Soccer, Basketball, Volleyball, Tennis

Overview of Penn State Harrisburg Admissions

Admissions at Penn State Harrisburg are not highly selective; in 2019, 88% of applicants gained admission to the school. Students whose SAT/ACT scores and GPA are within the institution’s requirements have a good chance of being admitted. Applicants should complete an online application and send test scores from either the SAT or ACT and high school transcripts. Students with unique talents and accomplishments can still receive strong consideration even if their GPAs are outside of the mean range. After applying, students will receive a message from an admissions counselor about the application process’s next steps.

Admissions Data                        

• Penn State Harrisburg Acceptance Rate: 88%
• Test Scores — 25th/75th Percentile
  • SAT Critical Reading: 520/610
  • SAT Math: 530/680
  • SAT Writing: -/-
  • ACT Cumulative: 23/27
  • ACT English: 22/26
  • ACT Math: 24/33
  • ACT Writing: -/-

Safety Net Schools: Easy to Gain Admission

If past admission data predicts that you would be a competitive candidate for Penn State Harrisburg, it should be easy to gain admissions to the schools below. If Penn State Harrisburg is currently out of your reach, then you are sure to be a competitive candidate for the schools below.

East Carolina University, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Texas State University, Georgia State University, University of Texas at El Paso, California State University Northridge

Same Tier: Just As Hard to Gain Admission

If you’re a competitive candidate for Penn State Harrisburg, you should have an equal chance of gaining admissions at these schools.

Ohio University, University of North Texas, University of Texas at Arlington, California State University Long Beach, San Jose State University, Pace University, Florida Gulf Coast University

Reach Institutions: Gaining Admissions Will be More of a Challenge

These schools are more challenging to gain admission into than Penn State Harrisburg. If you improve your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, you’ll be a competitive candidate.

United States Military Academy, Penn State University Park, University of Cincinnati, Hofstra University, Temple University, Auburn University, Seton Hall University

Applying to Penn State Harrisburg

Application Deadline: Rolling

Undergraduate Admissions Website:

https://harrisburg.psu.edu/admissions/freshman-students-faq

Undergraduate Application Link(s):

https://admissions.psu.edu/apply/

Graduate Admissions Website:

https://harrisburg.psu.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions

Graduate Application Link(s):

http://gradschool.psu.edu/graduate-admissions/how-to-apply/