Penn State Berks vs. Penn State Abington

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Abington is larger than Penn State Berks based on total student enrollment (2,885 students vs. 1,884 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Berks is located in Reading, PA (Rural Fringe setting); Penn State Abington is in Abington, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Penn State Berks is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Abington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Berks 13:1; Penn State Abington 14:1.

Penn State Berks vs. Penn State Abington Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Berks or Penn State Abington? 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 Abington than Penn State Berks ($19,232 vs. $23,721).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Penn State Berks and Penn State Abington ($14,474).
• Penn State Berks is 4.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Abington (about $704 more per year; $15,972.00 vs. $15,268.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5% higher at Penn State Berks than at Penn State Abington (about $1,294 more per year; $26,958.00 vs. $25,664.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Abington than at Penn State Berks (80% vs. 69%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Abington students is 5.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Berks students ($9,883 vs. $9,405).

Penn State Berks vs. Penn State Abington Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Berks (1180) is 10 points higher than at Penn State Abington (1170).
• Incoming Penn State Abington students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 22 at Penn State Berks).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Berks 1090/1275; Penn State Abington 1070/1265.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Berks 18/27; Penn State Abington 23/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Berks - Test optional; Penn State Abington - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Abington students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Penn State Berks (3.39).
• Penn State Berks has a higher acceptance rate (98.7%) than Penn State Abington (96.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.4% at Penn State Berks vs. 11.2% at Penn State Abington.

Penn State Berks vs. Penn State Abington Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Berks and Penn State Abington? 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 Berks's six-year graduation rate (55%) is higher than Penn State Abington's (44%).
• Graduates of Penn State Berks and Penn State Abington have equivalent median earnings about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $55,300), per the federal College Scorecard cohort (typically among students working and not enrolled).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Abington and Penn State Berks graduates have the same median loan debt ($26,818 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Penn State Abington and Penn State Berks graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($277 vs. $277).
• Federal student loan repayment rates three years after graduation are the same for Penn State Abington and Penn State Berks graduates (69% 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.