Penn State Erie-Behrend College vs. Roanoke College

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Erie Behrend College in Erie, PA with Roanoke College in Salem, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Erie Behrend College is larger than Roanoke College based on total student enrollment (3,336 students vs. 1,804 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Erie Behrend College is located in Erie, PA (Rural Fringe setting); Roanoke College is in Salem, VA (Midsize Suburban setting).
• Penn State Erie Behrend College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Roanoke College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Erie Behrend College 12:1; Roanoke College 11:1.

Penn State Erie-Behrend College vs. Roanoke College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Erie-Behrend College or Roanoke 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 Penn State Erie Behrend College than Roanoke College ($23,764 vs. $26,044).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Erie Behrend College are 5.8% lower than at Roanoke College ($14,474 vs. $15,366).
• Roanoke College is 138.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Erie-Behrend College (about $22,096 more per year; $38,068.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 41.2% higher at Roanoke College than at Penn State Erie Behrend College (about $11,110 more per year; $38,068.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Roanoke College than at Penn State Erie Behrend College (100% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Roanoke College students is 162% larger than aid received by Penn State Erie Behrend College students ($28,188 vs. $10,760).

Penn State Erie-Behrend College vs. Roanoke College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Erie-Behrend College or Roanoke 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 Roanoke College and Penn State Erie-Behrend College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Erie Behrend College (1220) is 20 points higher than at Roanoke College (1200).
• Incoming Penn State Erie-Behrend College students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 27 at Roanoke College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Erie Behrend College 1120/1310; Roanoke College 1090/1300.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Erie Behrend College 25/31; Roanoke College 24/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Erie-Behrend College - Test optional; Roanoke College - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Roanoke College students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at Penn State Erie-Behrend College (3.49).
• Penn State Erie-Behrend College has a higher acceptance rate (96.8%) than Roanoke College (83.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.5% at Penn State Erie-Behrend College vs. 9.7% at Roanoke College.

Penn State Erie-Behrend College vs. Roanoke College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Erie-Behrend College and Roanoke 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).

• Roanoke College's six-year graduation rate (69%) is higher than Penn State Erie Behrend College's (66%).
• Graduates from Penn State Erie Behrend College earn a median of about $4,100 more per year than Roanoke College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $51,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Erie Behrend College graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Roanoke College graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Erie-Behrend College graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Roanoke College graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Roanoke College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Erie-Behrend College students, three years after graduation. (75% 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.