Penn State Harrisburg

In 2022, tuition for full-time students at Penn State Harrisburg was $15,086 a year for in-state students and $25,100 a year for out-of-state students.

Usually, college tuition rises about 3% year.

If these numbers feel scary, remember, the advertized cost of tuition does not always mean much if you plan to use financial aid to help pay for college. Many students find the actual cost of college is far less than the sticker price after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts kick in. Plus, student loans can make the amount you do have to pay for college feel more doable until you're done with college.

Tuition for international students at Penn State Harrisburg is $25,100 per year.

Does Penn State Harrisburg Offer In-State and Out-of-State Tuition?

Penn State Harrisburg is a public, state institution, which means it offers a reduced tuition rate of $15,086 for students who qualify as state residents and attend full-time.Non-Pennsylvania residents can expect to pay 25,100 per year for tuition.

Public schools receive funds from the state to help them cover costs. Public, state schools can offer lower tuition for students who meet the requirements for in-state residency.

Choosing a school where you are eligible for in-state tuition can save students a lot of money on the overall cost of college. Don't forget to check your state's guidelines for how to qualify for as an in-state resident. Every state has its own rules about what makes someone eligible for in-state tuition. Most states require students to have resided in the state for a certain period of time before qualifying. There may be additional requirements too, depending on the state you and your parents currently reside in.

Explore other Pennsylvania colleges

Do International Students Pay More to Go to Penn State Harrisburg?

Penn State Harrisburg has the same tuition for international students as for those from out of state.

International students at Penn State Harrisburg can expect to pay around $25,100 per year, before any scholarships or financial aid.

International students usually do not qualify for for loans or grants from the U.S. government, but may qualify for private or Penn State Harrisburg-specific aid and scholarships.

---

Penn State Harrisburg Housing Expenses, Fees, and More

---

In addition to tuition, room and board, books, transportation and fees are also costs it consider when planning for college. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at Penn State Harrisburg.

House and Food Costs at Penn State Harrisburg

Housing and campus dining at Penn State Harrisburg costs $14,668 a year. This number includes the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, and a dining plan that enables you to eat in the school dining halls. Students who live off campus but would like to be able to eat in the campus dining can pay for a meal plan. The cost of a mean plan, or board-only, is $7,126.

Board costs vary based on on how many meals are included in the plan you choose.

How Much Do Books Cost at Penn State Harrisburg?

First-year students are sometimes surprised by how much books and supplies cost–and not in a good way. The actual cost of books depends on the courses you take and the materials required. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy books from students who have already taken the course.

Yearly Fees

The majority of colleges also have fees to offsets cost associated with maintaining facilties, like the computer labs and libraries, athletic facilities, and more.

There may be additional fees associated with participating in certain activities, like Greek Life, or playing on an intramural sports team. Many schools have ways for students who may struggle to participate because of cost can get help covering these fees.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Transportation costs at Penn State Harrisburg

The total cost of getting around in college can really vary. Will you take a subway, car or an airplane to get to school? Will you need to pay to park on-campus? Is the campus easy to get around on foot? Do you plan to bring a car or will you need to use public transportation? All of these questions can make a big difference in your estimated cost of transportation. Keeping in mind, first-year students are allowed to park a car on campus.

A school's location can impact the amount you'll have to spend just to get around. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the flip side, getting around in an urban area is usually pricey, but cities may offer more trains, busses and low-cost flight options to actually get to school. Penn State Harrisburgis in a small town setting in Pennsylvania.

Other Costs

When creating a budget for college, don’t forget to leave some room in your budget for personal expenses, like movies, takeouts, furniture or appliances for your dorm or housing, and essentials like laundry detergent, toothpaste and toilet paper.

---

Total Tuition and Expenses at Penn State Harrisburg

---

Now, let’s look at the breakdown of all expenses, to get a better estimate of the actual cost of attending Penn State Harrisburg.

How Much Does Penn State Harrisburg Cost?

What will the cost of attending Penn State Harrisburg be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2022 Total Tuition and Expenses
In-state Tuition	$15,086
Out-of-State Tuition	$25,100
Room and Board	$14,668
Board Only	$5,618
Other expenses	$3,222

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.

Penn State Harrisburg’s tuition and fees change based on: •Campus location for full-time and part-time students •Academic program for both full and part-time students •Course load for part-time students •Course level for both full and part-time students

---

Financial Aid at Penn State Harrisburg

---

The majority of Penn State Harrisburg undergrads use financial aid to to cover the cost of tuition. In 2022, 2,235 of the 4,085 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Penn State Harrisburg meets 1% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $11,328 a year. Around 54.27% of Penn State Harrisburg undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. Penn State Harrisburg graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $42,940 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans	$24,017
Penn State Harrisburg-Specific Loans	$4,716
Private Loans	$49,229

Most Common Loans for Penn State Harrisburg Students
Federal Loans	52.14%
Institutional Loans	1.14%
Private loans	21.79%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on Penn State Harrisburg financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at Penn State Harrisburg

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2022, Penn State Harrisburg awarded 1,238 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $18.3 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $4.18 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Net Cost of Penn State Harrisburg

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for Penn State Harrisburg students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at Penn State Harrisburg was $11,328 in 2022. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of Penn State Harrisburg seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
In-State, On-Campus	$12,660
Net In-state, Off-campus	$14,938
Out-of-State, On-Campus	$34,002

What will attending Penn State Harrisburg really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families understand the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the Penn State Harrisburg's net cost calculator on their website.

Penn State Harrisburg Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Penn State Harrisburg offers an Installment Payment Plan, which allows students to pay tuition in a series of smaller chunks instead of one lump sum.

Penn State Harrisburg Tuition Waivers

Schools sometimes offer tuition waivers to certain groups, to make attending more affordable. Some colleges offer tuition waivers for employees and their family members, underrepresented students, or military students. Even if you qualify for a waiver, students are usually responsible for housing, meal plans, and other expenses.

Penn State Harrisburg has some full or partial tuition waivers available for: - Employees or Children of Employees

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.

---

Learn More About Penn State Harrisburg

---

Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Admissions

See what others say about Penn State Harrisburg in the College Confidential forums