WSU vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College

Comparable Facts

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

Wayne State University is larger than Penn State Erie-Behrend College based on total student enrollment (23,803 students vs. 3,336 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Wayne State University is located in Detroit, MI (Large City setting); Penn State Erie Behrend College is in Erie, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Wayne State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Erie Behrend College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Wayne State University 14:1; Penn State Erie Behrend College 12:1.

WSU vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WSU or Penn State Erie-Behrend 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 Wayne State University than Penn State Erie-Behrend College ($14,416 vs. $23,764).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wayne State University are 1.5% lower than at Penn State Erie Behrend College ($14,252 vs. $14,474).
• Penn State Erie Behrend College is 5.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than WSU (about $782 more per year; $15,972.00 vs. $15,190.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18.8% higher at WSU than at Penn State Erie Behrend College (about $5,079 more per year; $32,037.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wayne State University than at Penn State Erie Behrend College (98% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wayne State University students is 20.4% larger than aid received by Penn State Erie Behrend College students ($12,953 vs. $10,760).

WSU vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Penn State Erie Behrend College (1220) is 50 points higher than at WSU (1170).
• Incoming Penn State Erie-Behrend College students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (28 vs. 26 at WSU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Wayne State University 1060/1270; Penn State Erie Behrend College 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Wayne State University 23/29; Penn State Erie Behrend College 25/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WSU - Test optional; Penn State Erie-Behrend College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: WSU Aug 1, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman Penn State Erie-Behrend College students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.49) than students at WSU (3.42).
• Penn State Erie-Behrend College has a higher acceptance rate (96.8%) than WSU (81.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.4% at WSU vs. 14.5% at Penn State Erie-Behrend College.

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

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

• Penn State Erie Behrend College's six-year graduation rate (66%) is higher than Wayne State University's (26%).
• Graduates from Penn State Erie Behrend College earn a median of about $4,300 more per year than WSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $51,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Wayne State University graduates have a $4,560 lower median loan debt than Penn State Erie-Behrend College graduates ($22,258 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, WSU graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Erie-Behrend College graduates ($230 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Erie-Behrend College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 38%)

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.