EC vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College

Comparable Facts

Compare Elmira College in Elmira, NY 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 EC based on total student enrollment (3,336 students vs. 786 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Elmira College is located in Elmira, NY (Small City setting); Penn State Erie Behrend College is in Erie, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Elmira 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: Elmira College 11:1; Penn State Erie Behrend College 12:1.

EC vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, EC 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 Elmira College than Penn State Erie-Behrend College ($23,682 vs. $23,764).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Erie Behrend College are 0.5% lower than at Elmira College ($14,474 vs. $14,550).
• Elmira College is 144% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Erie-Behrend College (about $23,004 more per year; $38,976.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 44.6% higher at EC than at Penn State Erie Behrend College (about $12,018 more per year; $38,976.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Elmira College than at Penn State Erie Behrend College (100% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Elmira College students is 167.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Erie Behrend College students ($28,780 vs. $10,760).

EC vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, EC 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 EC.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Elmira College (1240) is 20 points higher than at Penn State Erie-Behrend College (1220).
• Incoming Penn State Erie-Behrend College students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 27 at EC).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elmira College 1090/1385; Penn State Erie Behrend College 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elmira College 26/29; Penn State Erie Behrend College 25/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: EC - Test optional; Penn State Erie-Behrend College - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Erie-Behrend College students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.49) than students at EC (3.22).
• Penn State Erie-Behrend College has a higher acceptance rate (96.8%) than EC (77%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at EC vs. 14.5% at Penn State Erie-Behrend College.

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

How do outcomes compare for EC 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).

• Penn State Erie Behrend College's six-year graduation rate (66%) is higher than Elmira College's (60%).
• Graduates from Penn State Erie Behrend College earn a median of about $9,300 more per year than EC graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $46,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Erie Behrend College graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than EC graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Erie-Behrend College graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than EC graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More EC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Erie-Behrend College students, three years after graduation. (72% 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.