Franciscan vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College

Comparable Facts

Compare Franciscan University of Steubenville in Steubenville, OH with Penn State Erie Behrend College in Erie, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Franciscan University of Steubenville is larger than Penn State Erie-Behrend College based on total student enrollment (3,976 students vs. 3,336 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Franciscan University of Steubenville is located in Steubenville, OH (Small City setting); Penn State Erie Behrend College is in Erie, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Franciscan University of Steubenville 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: Franciscan University of Steubenville 17:1; Penn State Erie Behrend College 12:1.

Franciscan vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Franciscan 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 Franciscan University of Steubenville than Penn State Erie-Behrend College ($23,086 vs. $23,764).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Franciscan University of Steubenville are 30.9% lower than at Penn State Erie Behrend College ($10,000 vs. $14,474).
• Franciscan University of Steubenville is 113.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Erie-Behrend College (about $18,128 more per year; $34,100.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 26.5% higher at Franciscan than at Penn State Erie Behrend College (about $7,142 more per year; $34,100.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Franciscan University of Steubenville than at Penn State Erie Behrend College (99% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Franciscan University of Steubenville students is 100% larger than aid received by Penn State Erie Behrend College students ($21,522 vs. $10,760).

Franciscan vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Franciscan 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 Franciscan.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Franciscan University of Steubenville (1230) is 10 points higher than at Penn State Erie-Behrend College (1220).
• Incoming Penn State Erie-Behrend College students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 25 at Franciscan).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Franciscan University of Steubenville 1110/1350; Penn State Erie Behrend College 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Franciscan University of Steubenville 22/29; Penn State Erie Behrend College 25/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Franciscan - Test optional; Penn State Erie-Behrend College - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Franciscan students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.78) than students at Penn State Erie-Behrend College (3.49).
• Penn State Erie-Behrend College has a higher acceptance rate (96.8%) than Franciscan (58.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 41.7% at Franciscan vs. 14.5% at Penn State Erie-Behrend College.

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

How do outcomes compare for Franciscan 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).

• Franciscan University of Steubenville's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than Penn State Erie Behrend College's (66%).
• Graduates from Penn State Erie Behrend College earn a median of about $15,500 more per year than Franciscan graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $39,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Franciscan University of Steubenville graduates have a $4,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Erie-Behrend College graduates ($22,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Franciscan graduates have an estimated $50 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Erie-Behrend College graduates ($227 vs. $277).
• More Franciscan graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Erie-Behrend College students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.