Penn State Erie-Behrend College vs. Ursinus College

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Erie Behrend College is larger than Ursinus College based on total student enrollment (3,336 students vs. 1,502 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Erie Behrend College is located in Erie, PA (Rural Fringe setting); Ursinus College is in Collegeville, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Penn State Erie Behrend College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Ursinus College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Erie Behrend College 12:1; Ursinus College 10:1.

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

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Erie-Behrend College or Ursinus 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 Ursinus College ($23,764 vs. $32,158).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Erie Behrend College are 15% lower than at Ursinus College ($14,474 vs. $17,028).
• Ursinus College is 283.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Erie-Behrend College (about $45,238 more per year; $61,210.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 127.1% higher at Ursinus College than at Penn State Erie Behrend College (about $34,252 more per year; $61,210.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ursinus College than at Penn State Erie Behrend College (100% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Ursinus College students is 315.9% larger than aid received by Penn State Erie Behrend College students ($44,754 vs. $10,760).

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

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ursinus College (1290) is 70 points higher than at Penn State Erie-Behrend College (1220).
• Incoming Ursinus College students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at Penn State Erie-Behrend College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Erie Behrend College 1120/1310; Ursinus College 1200/1385.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Erie Behrend College 25/31; Ursinus College 28/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Erie-Behrend College - Test optional; Ursinus College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Ursinus College May 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Ursinus College students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at Penn State Erie-Behrend College (3.49).
• Penn State Erie-Behrend College has a higher acceptance rate (96.8%) than Ursinus College (91.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.5% at Penn State Erie-Behrend College vs. 12.5% at Ursinus College.

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

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

• Ursinus College's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than Penn State Erie Behrend College's (66%).
• Graduates from Ursinus College earn a median of about $2,700 more per year than Penn State Erie-Behrend College graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $55,300), 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 Ursinus 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 Ursinus College graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Ursinus College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Erie-Behrend College students, three years after graduation. (83% 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.