Gordon College vs. Penn State Berks

Comparable Facts

Compare Gordon College in Wenham, MA with Penn State Berks in Reading, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Berks is larger than Gordon College based on total student enrollment (1,884 students vs. 1,595 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Gordon College is located in Wenham, MA (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Berks is in Reading, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Gordon College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Berks is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Gordon College 10:1; Penn State Berks 13:1.

Gordon College vs. Penn State Berks Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Gordon College 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 Gordon College ($23,721 vs. $25,299).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gordon College are 8.1% lower than at Penn State Berks ($13,300 vs. $14,474).
• Gordon College is 92.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Berks (about $14,728 more per year; $30,700.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.9% higher at Gordon College than at Penn State Berks (about $3,742 more per year; $30,700.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gordon College than at Penn State Berks (100% vs. 69%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Gordon College students is 78.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Berks students ($16,802 vs. $9,405).

Gordon College vs. Penn State Berks Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Gordon College or Penn State Berks? 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 Berks and Gordon College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Gordon College (1240) is 60 points higher than at Penn State Berks (1180).
• Incoming Gordon College students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 22 at Penn State Berks).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Gordon College 1130/1355; Penn State Berks 1090/1275.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Gordon College 25/31; Penn State Berks 18/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Gordon College - Test optional; Penn State Berks - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Gordon College Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Gordon College students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at Penn State Berks (3.39).
• Penn State Berks has a higher acceptance rate (98.7%) than Gordon College (69.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at Gordon College vs. 9.4% at Penn State Berks.

Gordon College vs. Penn State Berks Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Gordon College and Penn State Berks? 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).

• Gordon College's six-year graduation rate (74%) is higher than Penn State Berks's (55%).
• Graduates from Penn State Berks earn a median of about $10,000 more per year than Gordon College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $45,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Berks graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Gordon College graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Berks graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Gordon College graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Gordon College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Berks students, three years after graduation. (85% 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.