ONU vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College

Comparable Facts

Compare Ohio Northern University in Ada, 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 ONU based on total student enrollment (3,336 students vs. 3,140 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Ohio Northern University is located in Ada, OH (Distant Town setting); Penn State Erie Behrend College is in Erie, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Ohio Northern 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: Ohio Northern University 13:1; Penn State Erie Behrend College 12:1.

ONU vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ONU 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 ONU ($23,764 vs. $25,941).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Erie Behrend College are 0.9% lower than at Ohio Northern University ($14,474 vs. $14,604).
• Ohio Northern University is 149.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Erie-Behrend College (about $23,828 more per year; $39,800.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 47.6% higher at ONU than at Penn State Erie Behrend College (about $12,842 more per year; $39,800.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio Northern University than at Penn State Erie Behrend College (97% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio Northern University students is 157.4% larger than aid received by Penn State Erie Behrend College students ($27,696 vs. $10,760).

ONU vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ONU 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 ONU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ohio Northern University (1290) is 70 points higher than at Penn State Erie-Behrend College (1220).
• Incoming Penn State Erie-Behrend College students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 26 at ONU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio Northern University 1175/1400; Penn State Erie Behrend College 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio Northern University 24/29; Penn State Erie Behrend College 25/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ONU - Test optional; Penn State Erie-Behrend College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: ONU Aug 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman ONU 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 ONU (74.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.9% at ONU vs. 14.5% at Penn State Erie-Behrend College.

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

How do outcomes compare for ONU 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).

• Penn State Erie Behrend College's six-year graduation rate (66%) is higher than Ohio Northern University's (65%).
• Graduates from Ohio Northern University earn a median of about $15,900 more per year than Penn State Erie-Behrend College graduates about ten years after starting college ($71,200 vs. $55,300), 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 ONU 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 ONU graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More ONU 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.