Hope College vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College

Comparable Facts

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

Hope College is larger than Penn State Erie-Behrend College based on total student enrollment (3,395 students vs. 3,336 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Hope College is located in Holland, MI (Small City setting); Penn State Erie Behrend College is in Erie, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Hope 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: Hope College 9:1; Penn State Erie Behrend College 12:1.

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

Which college is more expensive, Hope 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 Hope College ($23,764 vs. $30,700).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Hope College are 10.5% lower than at Penn State Erie Behrend College ($12,950 vs. $14,474).
• Hope College is 162.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Erie-Behrend College (about $25,998 more per year; $41,970.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 55.7% higher at Hope College than at Penn State Erie Behrend College (about $15,012 more per year; $41,970.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hope College than at Penn State Erie Behrend College (97% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Hope College students is 131.8% larger than aid received by Penn State Erie Behrend College students ($24,945 vs. $10,760).

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

Which college is harder to get into, Hope 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 Hope College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Hope College (1220) is the same as at Penn State Erie-Behrend College (1220).
• Incoming Hope College students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 28) as students at Penn State Erie-Behrend College (28).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Hope College 1100/1340; Penn State Erie Behrend College 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Hope College 25/31; Penn State Erie Behrend College 25/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Hope College - Test optional; Penn State Erie-Behrend College - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Hope College students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at Penn State Erie-Behrend College (3.49).
• Penn State Erie-Behrend College has a higher acceptance rate (96.8%) than Hope College (79.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.1% at Hope College vs. 14.5% at Penn State Erie-Behrend College.

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

How do outcomes compare for Hope 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).

• Hope College's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than Penn State Erie Behrend College's (66%).
• Graduates from Penn State Erie Behrend College earn a median of about $7,800 more per year than Hope College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $47,500), 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 Hope College 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 Hope College graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Hope College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Erie-Behrend College 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.