AU vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College

Should I go to American University or Penn State Erie Behrend College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if AU or Penn State Erie-Behrend College 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.

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American University vs. Penn State Erie Behrend College comparison
American University Penn State Erie Behrend College College 3 College 4
American University Penn State Erie Behrend College
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Overview

AU Penn State Erie-Behrend College
Location Washington, DC Erie, PA
Setting Large City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 13,885 3,295
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #93 #503
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website american.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

AU Penn State Erie-Behrend College
Tuition (In State) $53,070 $15,388
Tuition (Out of State) $53,070 $25,854
Room & Board $15,706 $12,984
Avg Net Price $41,369 $21,968
Avg Grant Aid $27,138 $9,685
% Receiving Grant Aid 66% 71%

Admission

AU Penn State Erie-Behrend College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,510 4,363
Admitted 7,926 4,164
Acceptance Rate 40.6% 95.4%
Enrolled % 22.2% 19.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.49
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 29/32 22/30
SAT Range 1290/1430 1095/1330
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 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

AU Penn State Erie-Behrend College
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (43%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Business (38%)
  • Engineering (14%)
  • Engineering Technology (9%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

AU Penn State Erie-Behrend College
Graduation Rate 77% 66%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $64,800 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,250 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $250 $277

Diversity

AU Penn State Erie-Behrend College
% Men 37% 64%
% Women 63% 36%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 58% 79%
% Black 7% 4%
% Hispanic 12% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 7% 9%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

AU Penn State Erie-Behrend College
% In-State 2% 74%
% Out-of-State 94% 19%

Campus

AU Penn State Erie-Behrend College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • American University is larger than than Penn State Erie-Behrend College based on total student enrollment (13,885 students vs. 3,295 students)

AU vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Penn State Erie-Behrend College?

  • American University is 244.9% more expensive to attend than Penn State Erie-Behrend College for in-state tuition ($53,070.00 vs. $15,388.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 105.3% higher at AU than Penn State Erie Behrend College ($53,070.00 vs. $25,854.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Erie Behrend College than AU ($21,968 vs. $41,369)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Erie Behrend College are 21% lower than costs at American University ($12,984 vs. $15,706)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Penn State Erie Behrend College than American University (71% vs. 66%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 180.2% larger than aid received Penn State Erie Behrend College ($27,138 vs. $9,685)

AU vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or Penn State Erie-Behrend College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State Erie-Behrend College or AU .

  • The average SAT score at American University (1252) is 198 points higher than at Penn State Erie-Behrend College (1054)
  • Incoming AU students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Penn State Erie-Behrend College (23)
  • Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Penn State Erie-Behrend College (3.49)
  • Penn State Erie-Behrend College has a higher acceptance rate (95.4%) than AU (40.6%)

AU vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AU or Penn State Erie-Behrend College? 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 Erie-Behrend College and AU.

  • The graduation rate at AU is higher than Penn State Erie Behrend College (77% vs. 66%)
  • Graduates from American University earn on average $9,500 more per year than Penn State Erie-Behrend College graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $55,300)
  • American University students graduate with a $2,568 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Erie-Behrend College graduates. ($24,250 vs. $26,818)
  • AU graduates are paying $27 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Erie-Behrend College graduates. ($250 vs. $277)
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Erie-Behrend College students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 69%)

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