Dickinson College vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College

Comparable Facts

Compare Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA with Penn State Erie Behrend College in Erie, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Erie Behrend College is larger than Dickinson College based on total student enrollment (3,336 students vs. 2,314 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Dickinson College is located in Carlisle, PA (Distant Town setting); Penn State Erie Behrend College is in Erie, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Dickinson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Erie Behrend College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Dickinson College 11:1; Penn State Erie Behrend College 12:1.

Dickinson College vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dickinson College or Penn State Erie-Behrend College? 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 Erie Behrend College than Dickinson College ($23,764 vs. $38,483).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Erie Behrend College are 15.4% lower than at Dickinson College ($14,474 vs. $17,100).
• Dickinson College is 311% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Erie-Behrend College (about $49,678 more per year; $65,650.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 143.5% higher at Dickinson College than at Penn State Erie Behrend College (about $38,692 more per year; $65,650.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dickinson College than at Penn State Erie Behrend College (96% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dickinson College students is 313.4% larger than aid received by Penn State Erie Behrend College students ($44,479 vs. $10,760).

Dickinson College vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Dickinson College or Penn State Erie-Behrend College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Penn State Erie-Behrend College and Dickinson College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Dickinson College (1390) is 170 points higher than at Penn State Erie-Behrend College (1220).
• Incoming Dickinson College students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 28 at Penn State Erie-Behrend College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dickinson College 1310/1460; Penn State Erie Behrend College 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dickinson College 30/33; Penn State Erie Behrend College 25/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dickinson College - Test optional; Penn State Erie-Behrend College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dickinson College Jan 15, 2027.
• Penn State Erie-Behrend College has a higher acceptance rate (96.8%) than Dickinson College (42.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at Dickinson College vs. 14.5% at Penn State Erie-Behrend College.

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

How do outcomes compare for Dickinson College and Penn State Erie-Behrend College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Dickinson College's six-year graduation rate (84%) is higher than Penn State Erie Behrend College's (66%).
• Graduates from Dickinson College earn a median of about $6,700 more per year than Penn State Erie-Behrend College graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,000 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dickinson College graduates have a $5,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Erie-Behrend College graduates ($21,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Dickinson College graduates have an estimated $60 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Erie-Behrend College graduates ($217 vs. $277).
• More Dickinson College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Erie-Behrend College students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.