Duquesne University vs. Penn State Berks

Should I go to Duquesne University or Penn State Berks? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Duquesne 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.

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Duquesne University vs. Penn State Berks comparison
Duquesne University Penn State Berks College 3 College 4
Duquesne University Penn State Berks
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Overview

Duquesne University Penn State Berks
Location Pittsburgh, PA Reading, PA
Setting Large City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 8,107 2,077
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #212 #657
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website duq.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Duquesne University Penn State Berks
Tuition (In State) $45,376 $15,388
Tuition (Out of State) $45,376 $25,854
Room & Board $14,744 $14,334
Avg Net Price $33,919 $21,728
Avg Grant Aid $26,800 $8,528
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 66%

Admission

Duquesne University Penn State Berks
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,376 5,605
Admitted 10,828 5,453
Acceptance Rate 87.5% 97.3%
Enrolled % 13.3% 11.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.8 3.39
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 25/31 23/28
SAT Range 1160/1330 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 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Duquesne University Penn State Berks
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (31%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (10%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

Duquesne University Penn State Berks
Graduation Rate 73% 55%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $65,100 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $279 $277

Diversity

Duquesne University Penn State Berks
% Men 36% 59%
% Women 64% 41%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 81% 68%
% Black 5% 9%
% Hispanic 3% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 4% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Duquesne University Penn State Berks
% In-State 74% 64%
% Out-of-State 24% 30%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Duquesne University is larger than than Penn State Berks based on total student enrollment (8,107 students vs. 2,077 students)

Duquesne University vs. Penn State Berks Cost Comparison

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

  • Duquesne University is 194.9% more expensive to attend than Penn State Berks for in-state tuition ($45,376.00 vs. $15,388.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 75.5% higher at Duquesne University than Penn State Berks ($45,376.00 vs. $25,854.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Berks than Duquesne University ($21,728 vs. $33,919)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Berks are 2.9% lower than costs at Duquesne University ($14,334 vs. $14,744)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Duquesne University than Penn State Berks (95% vs. 66%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Duquesne University students is 214.3% larger than aid received Penn State Berks ($26,800 vs. $8,528)

Duquesne University vs. Penn State Berks Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Duquesne 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 Duquesne University .

  • The average SAT score at Duquesne University (1138) is 160 points higher than at Penn State Berks (978)
  • Incoming Duquesne University students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Penn State Berks (22)
  • Accepted freshman Duquesne University students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Penn State Berks (3.39)
  • Penn State Berks has a higher acceptance rate (97.3%) than Duquesne University (87.5%)

Duquesne University vs. Penn State Berks Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Duquesne 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 Duquesne University.

  • The graduation rate at Duquesne University is higher than Penn State Berks (73% vs. 55%)
  • Graduates from Duquesne University earn on average $9,800 more per year than Penn State Berks graduates after ten years. ($65,100 vs. $55,300)
  • Penn State Berks students graduate with a $182 lower median federal student loan debt than Duquesne University graduates. ($26,818 vs. $27,000)
  • Penn State Berks graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Duquesne University graduates. ($277 vs. $279)
  • More Duquesne University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Berks students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 69%)

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