Head-to-head comparison
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg vs Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona: which has better ROI?
Option A Middletown, PA
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg
- Net price / year
- $23,330
- Earnings, 10 years
- $63,435
- Payback
- 6.2 yrs
Option B Altoona, PA
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona
- Net price / year
- $22,213
- Earnings, 10 years
- $63,435
- Payback
- 5.9 yrs
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $88,852 in 5.9 years versus 6.2 years at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg, on median earnings of $63,435 vs $63,435 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,330 | $22,213 |
| Total net cost | $93,320 | $88,852 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $63,435 | $63,435 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 6.2 yrs | 5.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $208,180 | $212,648 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg or Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona, at $22,213 a year after aid versus $23,330 — a gap of $1,117 a year, or $4,468 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg or Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona graduates earn more?
Graduates of both report a median $63,435 ten years after entry, so earnings do not separate them either — the ROI difference comes entirely from what each degree costs. Figures are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, not programme-level pay.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg or Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona?
Completers at both borrow a median $25,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
26% of students finish at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg, against 17% at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.