Penn State Berks vs. Westminster College

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Berks is larger than Westminster College based on total student enrollment (1,884 students vs. 1,191 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Berks is located in Reading, PA (Rural Fringe setting); Westminster College is in New Wilmington, PA (Town Fringe setting).
• Penn State Berks is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Westminster College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Berks 13:1; Westminster College 12:1.

Penn State Berks vs. Westminster College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Berks or Westminster 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 Westminster College than Penn State Berks ($20,394 vs. $23,721).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Westminster College are 11% lower than at Penn State Berks ($12,880 vs. $14,474).
• Westminster College is 152.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Berks (about $24,318 more per year; $40,290.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 49.5% higher at Westminster College than at Penn State Berks (about $13,332 more per year; $40,290.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Westminster College than at Penn State Berks (100% vs. 69%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Westminster College students is 246.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Berks students ($32,553 vs. $9,405).

Penn State Berks vs. Westminster College Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Berks (1180) is 30 points higher than at Westminster College (1150).
• Incoming Westminster College students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 22 at Penn State Berks).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Berks 1090/1275; Westminster College 1040/1258.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Berks 18/27; Westminster College 20/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Berks - Test optional; Westminster College - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman Westminster College students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at Penn State Berks (3.39).
• Penn State Berks has a higher acceptance rate (98.7%) than Westminster College (92.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.4% at Penn State Berks vs. 12.1% at Westminster College.

Penn State Berks vs. Westminster College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Westminster College's six-year graduation rate (74%) is higher than Penn State Berks's (55%).
• Graduates from Penn State Berks earn a median of about $9,600 more per year than Westminster College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $45,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Berks graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Westminster 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 Westminster College graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Westminster College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Berks 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.