Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Harrisburg University of Science and Technology #882 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Harrisburg University of Science and Technology in the 58.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Harrisburg University of Science and Technology #1212 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Harrisburg University of Science and Technology's composite ranking reflects strong financial outcomes for graduates, anchored by its position in the 18.1 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These results stem from graduates who earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions.
Azimuth ranks Harrisburg University of Science and Technology #882 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Harrisburg, PA, Harrisburg University of Science and Technology enrolls roughly 615 undergraduates. Retention is 73.9% and the six-year graduation rate is 33.9%, reflecting the institution's ability to convert enrollment into degree completion. Where Harrisburg University of Science and Technology performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Harrisburg University of Science and Technology #1212 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Harrisburg University of Science and Technology in the 58.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's interdisciplinary focus and career-aligned curriculum help graduates move into well-paying roles that reward their specialized preparation. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Harrisburg University of Science and Technology sits in the 41.0 percentile for access and the 63.8 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting a private nonprofit tuition structure and a student population where 47.3% receive Pell Grants and 44.0% are first-generation college students. Mobility outcomes sit in the 61.5 percentile, indicating that while graduates achieve strong earnings, the institution serves a smaller share of low-income students relative to some peer institutions.
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology's published cost of attendance is $35,893. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $12,637, middle-income families pay around $15,063, and higher-income families pay approximately $20,871. Azimuth ranks Harrisburg University of Science and Technology #516 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Harrisburg University structures aid through need-based and merit-based pathways. Families apply using the FAFSA to access federal aid, state grants, and institutional scholarships. The university participates in federal Direct Loan programs and offers institutional financing options to help bridge gaps between net price and family resources. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $13,773; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $55,281, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology is a strong fit for students seeking an interdisciplinary STEM-focused education at a private nonprofit institution in PA, particularly those interested in applied technology fields. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $55,281, placing Harrisburg University of Science and Technology in the 30.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 58.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university serves 47.3% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 44.0% who are first-generation students, with an admission rate of 87.4%. This combination of access and outcomes makes it particularly compelling for students from these backgrounds. Fit depends on alignment with the institution's interdisciplinary STEM focus — Interdisciplinary Studies programs represent 18% of degrees. Students seeking traditional liberal arts or non-technical fields may find better matches elsewhere.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Harrisburg University Of Science And Technology hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Computer and Information Sciences, General
19 graduates
Natural Sciences
27 graduates
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology's program mix centers on interdisciplinary and applied technology fields, reflecting the institution's positioning as a specialized science and technology university. Natural Sciences is the largest program with 27 graduates annually, followed by Design and Applied Arts, Artificial Intelligence, Business Administration, and Nursing.
The institution's dominant program family, Interdisciplinary Studies, accounts for a substantial share of the degree portfolio across 6 total programs. The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in applied and technology-adjacent fields.
Artificial Intelligence leads with median earnings of $74,043 four years after enrollment from a cohort of 19 graduates, while Natural Sciences delivers median earnings of $38,323 from 27 graduates. These programs reflect Harrisburg University of Science and Technology's strength in fields where employers actively recruit and where four-year earnings signal direct labor-market entry rather than graduate-school pathways.
The program portfolio emphasizes applied professional outcomes aligned with regional and national labor-market demand in technology and interdisciplinary fields. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Harrisburg University of Science and Technology's dominant program families position graduates in sectors with sustained hiring and wage growth.
As a specialized institution, the university concentrates its academic resources on a focused set of fields rather than a broad general portfolio, which shapes both the scale of individual programs and the depth of employer networks within those specializations.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ohio Dominican University Similar quality tier (#28171 ranked) | OH | 94% | $51,748 | #28171 | Compare |
Marywood University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#28175 ranked) | PA | 61% | $55,817 | #28175 | Compare |
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte Similar quality tier (#28160 ranked) | NC | 80% | $43,418 | #28160 | Compare |
Dillard University Similar quality tier (#28177 ranked) | LA | 42% | $39,196 | #28177 | Compare |
Pitzer College Similar quality tier (#28158 ranked) | CA | 25% | $69,512 | #28158 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology's published cost of attendance is $35,893. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $12,637, middle-income families pay around $15,063, and higher-income families pay approximately $20,871.
Azimuth ranks Harrisburg University of Science and Technology #516 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Harrisburg University structures aid through need-based and merit-based pathways. Families apply using the FAFSA to access federal aid, state grants, and institutional scholarships.
The university participates in federal Direct Loan programs and offers institutional financing options to help bridge gaps between net price and family resources. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $13,773; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $55,281, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Harrisburg University of Science and Technology earn median 4-year earnings of $55,281, placing the institution in the 30.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs below the $57,042 median at comparable institutions.
Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Harrisburg University of Science and Technology in the 58.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes represent lifetime returns relative to PA's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $33,196 for working adults with only a high school credential.
The earnings pattern reflects Harrisburg University of Science and Technology's concentration in Interdisciplinary Studies. Natural Sciences is the largest program with 27 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $38,323, representing 0.7× the national benchmark for the field.
Design and Applied Arts and Artificial Intelligence also enroll substantial cohorts, with Artificial Intelligence graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $74,043 — 0.8× the national benchmark. Business Administration and Nursing round out the institution's core program portfolio.
Azimuth ranks Harrisburg University of Science and Technology #1212 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
