Penn State Erie-Behrend College vs. Wilkes

Comparable Facts

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

Wilkes University is larger than Penn State Erie-Behrend College based on total student enrollment (5,381 students vs. 3,336 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Erie Behrend College is located in Erie, PA (Rural Fringe setting); Wilkes University is in Wilkes-Barre, PA (Small City setting).
• Penn State Erie Behrend College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Wilkes University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Erie Behrend College 12:1; Wilkes University 13:1.

Penn State Erie-Behrend College vs. Wilkes Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Erie-Behrend College or Wilkes? 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 Wilkes ($23,764 vs. $28,511).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Erie Behrend College are 10.5% lower than at Wilkes University ($14,474 vs. $16,166).
• Wilkes University is 172.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Erie-Behrend College (about $27,524 more per year; $43,496.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 61.3% higher at Wilkes than at Penn State Erie Behrend College (about $16,538 more per year; $43,496.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wilkes University than at Penn State Erie Behrend College (100% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wilkes University students is 163.2% larger than aid received by Penn State Erie Behrend College students ($28,324 vs. $10,760).

Penn State Erie-Behrend College vs. Wilkes Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Erie Behrend College (1220) is 80 points higher than at Wilkes (1140).
• Incoming Penn State Erie-Behrend College students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 25 at Wilkes).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Erie Behrend College 1120/1310; Wilkes University 1020/1250.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Erie Behrend College 25/31; Wilkes University 22/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Erie-Behrend College - Test optional; Wilkes - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Wilkes 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 Wilkes (90.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.5% at Penn State Erie-Behrend College vs. 9.3% at Wilkes.

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

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

• Penn State Erie Behrend College's six-year graduation rate (66%) is higher than Wilkes University's (58%).
• Graduates from Wilkes University earn a median of about $2,900 more per year than Penn State Erie-Behrend College graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,200 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Wilkes University graduates have a $818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Erie-Behrend College graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Wilkes graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Erie-Behrend College graduates ($268 vs. $277).
• More Wilkes 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.