Academic Comparison between Widener and Penn State Harrisburg

Widener University and Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg are frequently compared when students or parents prepare college admissions. Widener is a four-year, private (not-for-profit) school located in Chester, PA and Penn State Harrisburg is a four-year, public school located in Middletown, PA.

The following list compares two colleges briefly in important perspectives. You can compare them with comprehensive information on full comparison page.

Widener is a private (not-for-profit) and Penn State Harrisburg is a public school and both are four-year schools.
Widener has more expensive tuition & fees ($55,730) than Penn State Harrisburg ($26,958).
It is harder to admit to Widener than Penn State Harrisburg.
Penn State Harrisburg has a higher submitted SAT score (1,180) than Widener (1,180).
Widener has more students with 5,713 students while Penn State Harrisburg has 4,478 students.
Widener has a lower number of students per faculty with 11 to 1 while Penn State Harrisburg's ratio is 15 to 1.
Widener has more full-time faculties with 276 faculties while Penn State Harrisburg has 246 full-time faculties.

Comparison Table with important Academic Factors

Widener University	vs.	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg
Chester, Pennsylvania	Location	Middletown, Pennsylvania
Four-year, Private (not-for-profit)	School Type	four-year, Public
Doctor's degree	Highest Degree Offered	Doctor's degree
Doctoral / Research University	Carnegie Classification
$55,730	2025 Tuition & Fees	In-State$15,972 Out-Of-State$26,958
93%	% Receiving Financial Aid	63%
$40,208	Average Amount of Financial Aid	$10,737

70.93 %	Acceptance Rates	97.60 %
13.81 %	Yield (Enrollment Rates)	11.24 %
1,180	SAT Score	1,220
-	ACT Score	27
68 %	Graduation Rate	26 %
-	Transfer-out Rate	-
78 %	Retention Rate	82 %
5,713	Student Population	4,478
276	Number of Faculties	246
11 to 1	Students to Faculty Ratio	15 to 1
Distance Learning (Online Classes), ROTC, Study Abroad, Weekend/Evening College, Teacher Certification	Special Learning Opportunities	Distance Learning (Online Classes), ROTC, Study Abroad, Weekend/Evening College, Teacher Certification
Academic/career counseling service, Employment services, Placement services	On Campus Student Services	Academic/career counseling service, Employment services