Penn State Berks vs. WVU

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Berks in Reading, PA with West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

West Virginia University is larger than Penn State Berks based on total student enrollment (23,643 students vs. 1,884 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Berks is located in Reading, PA (Rural Fringe setting); West Virginia University is in Morgantown, WV (Small City setting).
• Penn State Berks is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. West Virginia University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Berks 13:1; West Virginia University 19:1.

Penn State Berks vs. WVU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Berks or WVU? 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 West Virginia University than Penn State Berks ($15,169 vs. $23,721).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Berks are 0.7% lower than at West Virginia University ($14,474 vs. $14,582).
• Penn State Berks is 58.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than WVU (about $5,868 more per year; $15,972.00 vs. $10,104.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.1% higher at WVU than at Penn State Berks (about $1,650 more per year; $28,608.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at West Virginia University than at Penn State Berks (94% vs. 69%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by West Virginia University students is 31.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Berks students ($12,363 vs. $9,405).

Penn State Berks vs. WVU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Berks or WVU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between WVU and Penn State Berks.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Penn State Berks (1180) is 60 points higher than at WVU (1120).
• Incoming WVU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (23 vs. 22 at Penn State Berks).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Penn State Berks 1090/1275; West Virginia University 1010/1220.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Penn State Berks 18/27; West Virginia University 20/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Berks - Test optional; WVU - Test optional.
• Enrolled freshman WVU students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at Penn State Berks (3.39).
• Penn State Berks has a higher acceptance rate (98.7%) than WVU (89%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.4% at Penn State Berks vs. 24.8% at WVU.

Penn State Berks vs. WVU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Berks and WVU? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• West Virginia University's six-year graduation rate (57%) is higher than Penn State Berks's (55%).
• Graduates from Penn State Berks earn a median of about $4,700 more per year than WVU graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, West Virginia University graduates have a $2,817 lower median loan debt than Penn State Berks graduates ($24,001 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, WVU graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Berks graduates ($248 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Berks graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WVU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 59%)

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.