DeSales University vs. Penn State Berks

Deciding between DeSales University and Penn State Berks? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

DeSales University
Penn State Berks

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • DeSales University Center Valley, PA
  • Penn State Berks Reading, PA
  • Setting
  • DeSales University Large Suburban
  • Penn State Berks Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • DeSales University 2,972
  • Penn State Berks 1,884
  • Type
  • DeSales University Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Berks Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • DeSales University #322
  • Penn State Berks #703
  • Religious Affiliation
  • DeSales University Roman Catholic
  • Penn State Berks -
  • Status
  • DeSales University Non-profit
  • Penn State Berks Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • DeSales University
  • Penn State Berks
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • DeSales University $46,800
  • Penn State Berks $15,972
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • DeSales University $46,800
  • Penn State Berks $26,958
  • Room & Board
  • DeSales University $13,800
  • Penn State Berks $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • DeSales University $31,732
  • Penn State Berks $23,721
  • Average Grant Aid
  • DeSales University $30,909
  • Penn State Berks $9,405
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • DeSales University 100%
  • Penn State Berks 69%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • DeSales University 3,977
  • Penn State Berks 6,030
  • Admitted
  • DeSales University 3,066
  • Penn State Berks 5,950
  • Acceptance Rate
  • DeSales University 77.1%
  • Penn State Berks 98.7%
  • Enrolled
  • DeSales University 16.7%
  • Penn State Berks 9.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • DeSales University 1180
  • Penn State Berks 1180
  • Typical ACT score
  • DeSales University 27
  • Penn State Berks 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • DeSales University 3.39
  • Penn State Berks 3.39
  • Typical High School Grades
  • DeSales University B+
  • Penn State Berks B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • DeSales University Average
  • Penn State Berks Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • DeSales University
  • Penn State Berks
  • ACT Range
  • DeSales University 27/28
  • Penn State Berks 18/27
  • SAT Range
  • DeSales University 1090/1260
  • Penn State Berks 1090/1275
  • Submit Test Scores
  • DeSales University Test optional
  • Penn State Berks Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • DeSales University Aug 1, 2027
  • Penn State Berks
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • DeSales University 12:1
  • Penn State Berks 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • DeSales University
    • Business (29%)
    • Health Professions (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Biology (5%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • Penn State Berks
    • Business (23%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • DeSales University 69%
  • Penn State Berks 55%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • DeSales University $51,100
  • Penn State Berks $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • DeSales University 71%
  • Penn State Berks 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • DeSales University $26,000
  • Penn State Berks $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • DeSales University $268
  • Penn State Berks $277
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • DeSales University 35%
  • Penn State Berks 58%
  • % Women
  • DeSales University 65%
  • Penn State Berks 42%
  • Racial Diversity
  • DeSales University Low
  • Penn State Berks Medium
  • HBCU
  • DeSales University No
  • Penn State Berks No
  • % White
  • DeSales University 75%
  • Penn State Berks 68%
  • % Asian
  • DeSales University 2%
  • Penn State Berks 5%
  • % Black
  • DeSales University 4%
  • Penn State Berks 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • DeSales University 12%
  • Penn State Berks 11%
  • % Native American
  • DeSales University 0%
  • Penn State Berks 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • DeSales University 0%
  • Penn State Berks 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • DeSales University 2%
  • Penn State Berks 2%
  • % International
  • DeSales University 0%
  • Penn State Berks 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • DeSales University 6%
  • Penn State Berks 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • DeSales University 70%
  • Penn State Berks 71%
  • % Out-of-State
  • DeSales University 30%
  • Penn State Berks 25%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • DeSales University Yes
  • Penn State Berks Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • DeSales University No
  • Penn State Berks No
  • Meal Plan
  • DeSales University Yes
  • Penn State Berks Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • DeSales University Yes
  • Penn State Berks No
  • Daycare Facility
  • DeSales University No
  • Penn State Berks No

Comparable Facts

Compare DeSales University in Center Valley, PA with Penn State Berks in Reading, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

DeSales University is larger than Penn State Berks based on total student enrollment (2,972 students vs. 1,884 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • DeSales University is located in Center Valley, PA (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Berks is in Reading, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
  • DeSales University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Berks is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: DeSales University 12:1; Penn State Berks 13:1.

DeSales University vs. Penn State Berks Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DeSales University or Penn State Berks? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Berks than DeSales University ($23,721 vs. $31,732).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at DeSales University are 4.7% lower than at Penn State Berks ($13,800 vs. $14,474).
  • DeSales University is 193% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Berks (about $30,828 more per year; $46,800.00 vs. $15,972.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 73.6% higher at DeSales University than at Penn State Berks (about $19,842 more per year; $46,800.00 vs. $26,958.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at DeSales University than at Penn State Berks (100% vs. 69%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by DeSales University students is 228.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Berks students ($30,909 vs. $9,405).

DeSales University vs. Penn State Berks Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DeSales University or Penn State Berks? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Penn State Berks and DeSales University.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at DeSales University (1180) is the same as at Penn State Berks (1180).
  • Incoming DeSales University students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (27 vs. 22 at Penn State Berks).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: DeSales University 1090/1260; Penn State Berks 1090/1275.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: DeSales University 27/28; Penn State Berks 18/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: DeSales University - Test optional; Penn State Berks - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: DeSales University Aug 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman DeSales University students have the same average high school GPA (3.39) as students at Penn State Berks (3.39).
  • Penn State Berks has a higher acceptance rate (98.7%) than DeSales University (77.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at DeSales University vs. 9.4% at Penn State Berks.

DeSales University vs. Penn State Berks Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DeSales University and Penn State Berks? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • DeSales University's six-year graduation rate (69%) is higher than Penn State Berks's (55%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Berks earn a median of about $4,200 more per year than DeSales University graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, DeSales University graduates have a $818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Berks graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, DeSales University graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Berks graduates ($268 vs. $277).
  • More DeSales University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Berks students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.