Head-to-head comparison
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg vs York College of Pennsylvania: 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 York, PA
York College of Pennsylvania
- Net price / year
- $18,556
- Earnings, 10 years
- $61,012
- Payback
- 5.9 yrs
York College of Pennsylvania has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $74,224 in 5.9 years versus 6.2 years at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg, on median earnings of $61,012 vs $63,435 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg | York College of Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,330 | $18,556 |
| Total net cost | $93,320 | $74,224 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $63,435 | $61,012 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 6.2 yrs | 5.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $208,180 | $178,816 |
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 York College of Pennsylvania?
York College of Pennsylvania, at $18,556 a year after aid versus $23,330 — a gap of $4,774 a year, or $19,096 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 York College of Pennsylvania graduates earn more?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg graduates report a median $63,435 ten years after entry, $2,423 more than the $61,012 at York College of Pennsylvania. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg or York College of Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $26,000 at York College of Pennsylvania, a difference of $1,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
64% of students finish at York College of Pennsylvania, against 26% at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg. 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.