Penn State Harrisburg SAT Scores, ACT Scores, Acceptance Rate, and Admissions Requirements
The 97.6% acceptance rate means Penn State Harrisburg is broadly accessible, but the score range still gives you a useful benchmark. If you choose to submit, an SAT in the upper half of the 1140-1300 range is a practical target because SAT submissions are much more common here than ACT submissions.
Data on this page is sourced from our college data partners and was last updated on July 9, 2026.
Penn State Harrisburg facts and stats
Penn State Harrisburg enrolls 4,047 undergraduates in a small-town campus setting. Penn State Harrisburg has an 82% freshman retention rate, which is above the national average of roughly 70%. Its 6-year graduation rate is 72%, and the student-to-faculty ratio is 15:1.
Middletown, PA
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Key Penn State Harrisburg application dates
Key dates
Regular Decision
Not offered
Early Action
November 1
Early Decision
Not offered
Priority Deadline
—
Financial Aid Priority
February 15
Test dates
August 22, 2026
Registration deadline: August 7, 2026
September 12, 2026
Registration deadline: August 28, 2026
October 3, 2026
Registration deadline: September 18, 2026
September 19, 2026
Registration deadline: August 14, 2026
October 17, 2026
Registration deadline: September 11, 2026
December 12, 2026
Registration deadline: November 6, 2026
If you choose to submit SAT or ACT scores to test-optional Penn State Harrisburg, take your first test by the spring of junior year and save the summer before senior year and the fall of senior year for retakes. For the November 1 Early Action deadline, an October retake is typically the last sitting likely to arrive in time, so use earlier retakes to strengthen your score or superscore.
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What you'll actually pay
Penn State Harrisburg’s in-state tuition is $15,388, while out-of-state tuition is $26,374. About 32% of students receive aid, with an average merit award of $4,581. The FAFSA priority deadline is February 15.
Out-of-state tuition at Penn State Harrisburg is $26,374, while in-state tuition is $15,388. Room and board adds about $16,528, so total costs can vary meaningfully by residency and living plans. About 32% of students receive aid, with an average aid package of $13,169, and the average merit award is $4,581. Students graduate with an average debt of $40,747.
Student life at Penn State Harrisburg
17% of undergrads live on campus
No fraternity or sorority life on campus.
Similar schools
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church
Bryn Athyn, PAAcceptance rate: 82.9%
Albright College
Reading, PAAcceptance rate: 76.3%
Allegheny College
Meadville, PAAcceptance rate: 54.5%
SAT: 1165–1355
ACT: 24–30
DeSales University
Center Valley, PAAcceptance rate: 77.1%
SAT: 1100–1240
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