Alvernia University vs. Penn State Berks

Should I go to Alvernia University or Penn State Berks? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Alvernia University or Penn State Berks is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
Alvernia University vs. Penn State Berks comparison
Alvernia University Penn State Berks College 3 College 4
Alvernia University Penn State Berks
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Alvernia University Penn State Berks
Location Reading, PA Reading, PA
Setting Small City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 2,484 2,077
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #739 #657
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website alvernia.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Alvernia University Penn State Berks
Tuition (In State) $39,100 $15,388
Tuition (Out of State) $39,100 $25,854
Room & Board $14,030 $14,334
Avg Net Price $27,091 $21,728
Avg Grant Aid $25,757 $8,528
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 66%

Admission

Alvernia University Penn State Berks
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,703 5,605
Admitted 3,365 5,453
Acceptance Rate 59% 97.3%
Enrolled % 14.8% 11.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.41 3.39
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/28
SAT Range 996/1170 1090/1290
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

Alvernia University Penn State Berks
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (33%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (10%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

Alvernia University Penn State Berks
Graduation Rate 53% 55%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,800 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 61% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $279 $277

Diversity

Alvernia University Penn State Berks
% Men 35% 59%
% Women 65% 41%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 69% 68%
% Black 13% 9%
% Hispanic 7% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 2%
% International 0% 3%
% Unknown Race 7% 1%

Students

Alvernia University Penn State Berks
% In-State 72% 64%
% Out-of-State 25% 30%

Campus

Alvernia University Penn State Berks
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Alvernia University is larger than than Penn State Berks based on total student enrollment (2,484 students vs. 2,077 students)

Alvernia University vs. Penn State Berks Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alvernia University or Penn State Berks?

  • Alvernia University is 154.1% more expensive to attend than Penn State Berks for in-state tuition ($39,100.00 vs. $15,388.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 51.2% higher at Alvernia University than Penn State Berks ($39,100.00 vs. $25,854.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Berks than Alvernia University ($21,728 vs. $27,091)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Alvernia University are 2.2% lower than costs at Penn State Berks ($14,030 vs. $14,334)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Alvernia University than Penn State Berks (100% vs. 66%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Alvernia University students is 202% larger than aid received Penn State Berks ($25,757 vs. $8,528)

Alvernia University vs. Penn State Berks Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Alvernia University or Penn State Berks? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State Berks or Alvernia University .

  • The average SAT score at Alvernia University (998) is 20 points higher than at Penn State Berks (978)
  • Incoming Alvernia University students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at Penn State Berks (22)
  • Accepted freshman Alvernia University students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Penn State Berks (3.39)
  • Penn State Berks has a higher acceptance rate (97.3%) than Alvernia University (59%)

Alvernia University vs. Penn State Berks Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Alvernia University or Penn State Berks? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Penn State Berks and Alvernia University.

  • The graduation rate at Penn State Berks is higher than Alvernia University (55% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from Penn State Berks earn on average $10,500 more per year than Alvernia University graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $44,800)
  • Penn State Berks students graduate with a $182 lower median federal student loan debt than Alvernia University graduates. ($26,818 vs. $27,000)
  • Penn State Berks graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Alvernia University graduates. ($277 vs. $279)
  • More Penn State Berks graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Alvernia University students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 61%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/