Penn State Harrisburg Graduate Tuition Rates: A Comprehensive Overview
Understanding the costs associated with graduate education is crucial for prospective students. This article provides a detailed breakdown of Penn State Harrisburg's graduate tuition rates, fees, and related financial aid opportunities. It covers various aspects, from resident and non-resident tuition to program-specific costs and available financial assistance.
Understanding the Basics: Tuition and Fees
Pennsylvania State University--Harrisburg's tuition stands at $16,004 for in-state students and $27,254 for out-of-state students. When compared to the national average for in-state tuition ($12,422), Penn State Harrisburg is more expensive. However, for out-of-state students, the tuition is cheaper than the national average of $29,767. These figures represent the "sticker price," encompassing both tuition and fees. Fees can cover a range of services, including library access, gym facilities, student centers, technology resources, and campus health centers.
It's important to differentiate between the "sticker price" and the total cost of attendance. The total cost includes tuition and fees, plus expenses like food and housing, books and supplies, transportation, and personal expenses. At Penn State University--Harrisburg, the total cost is approximately $38,720 for in-state students and $49,706 for out-of-state students.
The Student Fee
The Student Fee (Student Initiated Fee) is mandatory for all students and supports student-centered activities, services, facilities, and recreation to improve student life. It combines the previous Student Activities Fee and Student Facilities Fee. World Campus students who take courses through other Penn State campuses will be assessed the Student Fee based on the total number of credits enrolled.
Tuition Structure for Different Semesters
For Fall and Spring semesters, Resident Instruction students taking World Campus credits will be billed the Resident Instruction tuition rate based on their primary campus location. Full-time Resident Instruction students incur no additional charge for World Campus credits. Part-time students are charged tuition for World Campus credits based on their primary campus location. Summer tuition is billed on a per-credit basis, up to 12 credits, with the cost varying based on course location, student residency, student level (lower division, upper division, or graduate), and program college.
Read also: Understanding Penn State Requirements
Tuition Rates for 2025-2027 Academic Years
To provide a clearer picture, here's a breakdown of undergraduate and graduate tuition rates for the upcoming academic years:
Undergraduate Tuition Rates
2025-26 Academic Year
| Credits per Semester | 59 or Fewer Credits | 60 or More Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 11 or fewer | $638 per credit | $685 per credit |
| 12-19 | $7,755 per semester | $8,371 per semester |
2026-27 Academic Year
| Credits per Semester | 59 or Fewer Credits | 60 or More Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 11 or fewer | $644 per credit | $692 per credit |
| 12-19 | $7,833 per semester | $8,455 per semester |
Undergraduate students taking more than 19 credits will be charged the flat tuition rate plus the regular per credit hour rate for each credit above 19.
Graduate Tuition Rates
Graduate tuition varies based on the program you choose. The following information can be used to estimate tuition for courses taken while not enrolled in a program.
2025-26 Academic Year
| Credits per Semester | Cost |
|---|---|
| 11 or fewer | $1,037 per credit |
| 12 or more | $12,448 per semester |
2026-27 Academic Year
| Credits per Semester | Cost |
|---|---|
| 11 or fewer | $1,048 per credit |
| 12 or more | $12,572 per semester |
Additional Costs and Considerations
Beyond tuition and fees, students should budget for additional expenses:
- Course Materials: Students are responsible for purchasing required textbooks. Textbook information is available in students' LionPath account and from the campus bookstore.
- Living Expenses: The cost of attendance includes estimates for food and housing, which vary depending on whether a student lives on or off-campus. For first-year students in Capital Village, housing is estimated at $11,100 annually, with a meal plan (level 2) costing $5,526.
- Miscellaneous Expenses: These include transportation, personal expenses, and other variable costs.
Financial Aid and Funding Opportunities for Graduate Students
Penn State Harrisburg offers various financial aid options to assist graduate students in funding their education. Financial aid is available for students admitted to an eligible graduate degree-granting program and completing 400-level and higher coursework.
Read also: A Look at Penn State's Enrollment Numbers
Fellowships and Assistantships
- Full-Time Doctoral Student Funding: Awarded to full-time incoming doctoral students starting in the first semester of enrollment, this usually includes two years of funding: a stipend ($31,500 for 2023-2024) plus tuition remission.
- Assistantship Awards for Diversity: These are awarded competitively to entering students who contribute to the diversity of the College; a GPA score is required. Funding typically includes two years at the master's level and four years at the doctoral level.
- Tuition Remission for Summer Credits: Tuition remission is available for 1-9 summer credits for students who received two consecutive semesters of fellowship/assistantship support (depending on the availability of funds).
- School-Specific Funding: This includes teaching assistantships and grant-funded research assistantships, as well as wage-payroll opportunities through the respective graduate program.
Scholarships and Federal Work Study
Graduate students with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher are automatically considered (with FAFSA completion) for all of Penn State Harrisburg’s scholarships. To be considered for these scholarships, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Through the Federal Work Study program, graduate students can earn $15 an hour (maximum of 20 hours per week).
Career Studies Program Costs
For students in the Dept. of Education approved Comprehensive Transition Program (CTP), at least six credits per semester are required. The Career Studies Program includes 3 credits per semester of Continuing Education coursework and 3 credits per semester of academic coursework. The program cost includes the Continuing Education coursework, campus seminars, program coordination, and career exploration. On-campus peer support helps cover the costs for peer mentor support to Career Studies Students for their academic coursework and social activities. ODP Waiver Guidelines permit "$5000 per semester of on-campus peer support for participants taking at least 6 credit hours of classes per semester. On-campus peer Support cannot be reimbursed through Education Support when the participant takes fewer than 6 credit hours of classes per semester". The Academic Credit Tuition is the per credit charge for academic coursework. Each student must take at least three credits of academic coursework per semester. Students may take more than 3 credits per semester at $1,110 per credit. The academic credit tuition includes an Information Technology Fee.
Examples of Career Studies Program Costs:
- $3,330 for a three-credit academic course
- $6,660Total Cost to Student
- $13,962$27,924Additional Fees
- Academic Course Required Textbook(s)Students are responsible for purchasing the required textbooks for their academic courses. Textbook information is available in students' LionPath account and from the campus bookstore.
Important Policies and Deadlines
- Tuition Due Dates: Tuition is due shortly after each semester begins, and rates are assessed every semester of enrollment.
- Payment Options: Payments may be made in the Business Office by cash, check, or money order. Electronic payment options including credit card, debit card, and electronic check/ACH are available online via the Finance page of MyHU. A convenience fee will be added for any credit/debit card transactions involving student tuition payments or other services.
- Tuition Refund Policy: Tuition for the semester is considered fully-earned at the end of the third week of classes. For refund purposes, the semester begins on the first day of class for that semester, regardless of the student’s first class day of attendance during week one.
- Scholarship Payments: A scholarship payment received from a company or organization is applied to the student’s tuition balance.
- Privacy Policy: Harrisburg University adheres to a strict privacy policy. Under no circumstances will sensitive account information be released to any individuals or entities without prior written consent from the student. The Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA) regulations stipulate that Harrisburg University cannot release information from student records to anyone but the student without their consent.
- Tuition Deposit: A non-refundable tuition deposit of $100 must be paid in advance of final course registration for the initial semester of attendance. A tuition deposit made for the Fall Semester is non-refundable after May 1.
Cost of Attendance (COA)
The Cost of attendance (COA) is a budget for estimated billable and non-billable expenses to attend Penn State Harrisburg for one academic year and will vary based on the number of credits you take, the courses you choose, and your living arrangements. Your COA is one determining factor of your financial aid eligibility. Financial aid, including loans, may never exceed a student's COA.
Billable Expenses (appear on account statement):
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- Tuition and fees
- Food and housing (if living on-campus)
Non-Billable Expenses (flexible expenses based on your circumstances):
- Food and housing (if living off-campus)
- Books, course materials, books, and supplies
- Transportation
- Miscellaneous
Penn State Harrisburg Costs, 2025-26
| PA Resident | Non-PA Resident | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $15,388 | $26,638 |
| Student Fee | $616 | $616 |
| Total | $16,004 | $27,254 |
| Housing | $11,100 | $11,100 |
| Meal Plan (level 2) | $5,526 | $5,526 |
| Tuition and Fees | $16,004 | $27,254 |
| Total | $32,630 | $43,880 |
| Lower Division | $641 | $1,100 |
| Upper Division (Business, EMS, Science, IST, Engineering) | $775 | $1,271 |
| Upper Division (All Other Programs) | $696 | $1,179 |
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