JCU vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College

Comparable Facts

Compare John Carroll University in University Heights, OH 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 JCU based on total student enrollment (3,336 students vs. 2,864 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• John Carroll University is located in University Heights, OH (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Erie Behrend College is in Erie, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• John Carroll University 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: John Carroll University 13:1; Penn State Erie Behrend College 12:1.

JCU vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, JCU 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 JCU ($23,764 vs. $30,030).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Erie Behrend College are 0.3% lower than at John Carroll University ($14,474 vs. $14,520).
• John Carroll University is 216.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Erie-Behrend College (about $34,528 more per year; $50,500.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 87.3% higher at JCU than at Penn State Erie Behrend College (about $23,542 more per year; $50,500.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at John Carroll University than at Penn State Erie Behrend College (100% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by John Carroll University students is 232.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Erie Behrend College students ($35,785 vs. $10,760).

JCU vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, JCU 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 JCU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at John Carroll University (1260) is 40 points higher than at Penn State Erie-Behrend College (1220).
• Incoming JCU 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: John Carroll University 1180/1330; Penn State Erie Behrend College 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: John Carroll University 25/32; Penn State Erie Behrend College 25/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: JCU - Test optional; Penn State Erie-Behrend College - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman JCU students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at Penn State Erie-Behrend College (3.49).
• Penn State Erie-Behrend College has a higher acceptance rate (96.8%) than JCU (80.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.9% at JCU vs. 14.5% at Penn State Erie-Behrend College.

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

How do outcomes compare for JCU 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).

• John Carroll University's six-year graduation rate (71%) is higher than Penn State Erie Behrend College's (66%).
• Graduates from John Carroll University earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than Penn State Erie-Behrend College graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,600 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Erie Behrend College graduates have a $121 lower median loan debt than JCU graduates ($26,818 vs. $26,939).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Erie-Behrend College graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than JCU graduates ($277 vs. $278).
• More JCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Erie-Behrend College students, three years after graduation. (74% 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.