Niagara University vs. Penn State Berks

Should I go to Niagara University or Penn State Berks? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Niagara University or Penn State Berks is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Niagara University vs. Penn State Berks comparison
Niagara University Penn State Berks College 3 College 4
Niagara University Penn State Berks
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Overview

Niagara University Penn State Berks
Location Niagara University, NY Reading, PA
Setting Large Suburban Rural Fringe
Enrollment 3,858 2,077
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #487 #657
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website niagara.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Niagara University Penn State Berks
Tuition (In State) $35,400 $15,388
Tuition (Out of State) $35,400 $25,854
Room & Board $12,700 $14,334
Avg Net Price $18,165 $21,728
Avg Grant Aid $29,898 $8,528
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 66%

Admission

Niagara University Penn State Berks
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,836 5,605
Admitted 3,435 5,453
Acceptance Rate 89.5% 97.3%
Enrolled % 15.9% 11.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.53 3.39
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 24/28 23/28
SAT Range 1030/1240 1090/1290
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 30, 2025

Academics

Niagara University Penn State Berks
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (35%)
  • Business (29%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)
  • Biology (4%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (10%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

Niagara University Penn State Berks
Graduation Rate 65% 55%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,100 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 72% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $258 $277

Diversity

Niagara University Penn State Berks
% Men 35% 59%
% Women 65% 41%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 68% 68%
% Black 5% 9%
% Hispanic 4% 11%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 13% 3%
% Unknown Race 5% 1%

Students

Niagara University Penn State Berks
% In-State 81% 64%
% Out-of-State 10% 30%

Campus

Niagara University Penn State Berks
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Niagara University is larger than than Penn State Berks based on total student enrollment (3,858 students vs. 2,077 students)

Niagara University vs. Penn State Berks Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Niagara University or Penn State Berks?

  • Niagara University is 130% more expensive to attend than Penn State Berks for in-state tuition ($35,400.00 vs. $15,388.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 36.9% higher at Niagara University than Penn State Berks ($35,400.00 vs. $25,854.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Niagara University than Penn State Berks ($18,165 vs. $21,728)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Niagara University are 12.9% lower than costs at Penn State Berks ($12,700 vs. $14,334)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Niagara University than Penn State Berks (100% vs. 66%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Niagara University students is 250.6% larger than aid received Penn State Berks ($29,898 vs. $8,528)

Niagara University vs. Penn State Berks Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Niagara University or Penn State Berks? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State Berks or Niagara University .

  • The average SAT score at Niagara University (1037) is 59 points higher than at Penn State Berks (978)
  • Incoming Niagara University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Penn State Berks (22)
  • Accepted freshman Niagara University students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at Penn State Berks (3.39)
  • Penn State Berks has a higher acceptance rate (97.3%) than Niagara University (89.5%)

Niagara University vs. Penn State Berks Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Niagara University or Penn State Berks? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Penn State Berks and Niagara University.

  • The graduation rate at Niagara University is higher than Penn State Berks (65% vs. 55%)
  • Graduates from Penn State Berks earn on average $12,200 more per year than Niagara University graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $43,100)
  • Niagara University students graduate with a $1,818 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Berks graduates. ($25,000 vs. $26,818)
  • Niagara University graduates are paying $19 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Berks graduates. ($258 vs. $277)
  • More Niagara University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Berks 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/