Penn State Berks vs. Penn

Comparable Facts

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

University of Pennsylvania is larger than Penn State Berks based on total student enrollment (29,109 students vs. 1,884 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Berks is located in Reading, PA (Rural Fringe setting); University of Pennsylvania is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
• Penn State Berks is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pennsylvania is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Berks 13:1; University of Pennsylvania 8:1.

Penn State Berks vs. Penn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Berks or Penn? 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 University of Pennsylvania than Penn State Berks ($23,570 vs. $23,721).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Berks are 24.5% lower than at University of Pennsylvania ($14,474 vs. $19,174).
• University of Pennsylvania is 330% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Berks (about $52,714 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 154.8% higher at Penn than at Penn State Berks (about $41,728 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Berks than at University of Pennsylvania (69% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pennsylvania students is 596% larger than aid received by Penn State Berks students ($65,458 vs. $9,405).

Penn State Berks vs. Penn Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Pennsylvania (1540) is 360 points higher than at Penn State Berks (1180).
• Incoming Penn students have a 13 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 22 at Penn State Berks).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Berks 1090/1275; University of Pennsylvania 1510/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Berks 18/27; University of Pennsylvania 34/36.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Berks - Test optional; Penn - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: Penn Jan 5, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Penn students have a 0.56 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Penn State Berks (3.39).
• Penn State Berks has a higher acceptance rate (98.7%) than Penn (5.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.4% at Penn State Berks vs. 68% at Penn.

Penn State Berks vs. Penn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Berks and Penn? 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).

• University of Pennsylvania's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Penn State Berks's (55%).
• Graduates from University of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $68,300 more per year than Penn State Berks graduates about ten years after starting college ($123,600 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Pennsylvania graduates have a $6,185 lower median loan debt than Penn State Berks graduates ($20,633 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Penn graduates have an estimated $64 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Berks graduates ($213 vs. $277).
• More Penn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Berks students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.