Penn State Berks vs. Sweet Briar College

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Berks is larger than Sweet Briar College based on total student enrollment (1,884 students vs. 444 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Berks is located in Reading, PA (Rural Fringe setting); Sweet Briar College is in Sweet Briar, VA (Small Suburban setting).
• Penn State Berks is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Sweet Briar College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Berks 13:1; Sweet Briar College 9:1.

Penn State Berks vs. Sweet Briar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Berks or Sweet Briar 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 Sweet Briar College than Penn State Berks ($21,322 vs. $23,721).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Berks are 5% lower than at Sweet Briar College ($14,474 vs. $15,230).
• Sweet Briar College is 63.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Berks (about $10,188 more per year; $26,160.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.1% higher at Penn State Berks than at Sweet Briar College (about $798 more per year; $26,958.00 vs. $26,160.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sweet Briar College than at Penn State Berks (99% vs. 69%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sweet Briar College students is 138% larger than aid received by Penn State Berks students ($22,387 vs. $9,405).

Penn State Berks vs. Sweet Briar College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Berks or Sweet Briar 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 Sweet Briar College and Penn State Berks.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Sweet Briar College (1210) is 30 points higher than at Penn State Berks (1180).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Berks 1090/1275; Sweet Briar College 1100/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Berks 18/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Berks - Test optional; Sweet Briar College - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Sweet Briar College students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.54) than students at Penn State Berks (3.39).
• Penn State Berks has a higher acceptance rate (98.7%) than Sweet Briar College (75.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.4% at Penn State Berks vs. 13.2% at Sweet Briar College.

Penn State Berks vs. Sweet Briar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Berks and Sweet Briar 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).

• Sweet Briar College's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than Penn State Berks's (55%).
• Graduates from Penn State Berks earn a median of about $13,600 more per year than Sweet Briar College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $41,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Berks graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Sweet Briar College graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Berks graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Sweet Briar College graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Sweet Briar College 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.