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Reading , PA
Penn State Berks is a satellite campus of the renowned Pennsylvania State University located in Reading, Pennsylvania. Established in 1958, the campus offers a wide array of academic programs in various disciplines. With a focus on personalized education, the campus provides a supportive environment where students receive individual attention and ample opportunities for engagement and participation in their education.
At Penn State Berks, students have access to a diverse range of academic programs, including over 20 bachelor's degree programs and five associate degree programs. The campus is noted for its strong programs in business, engineering, information sciences and technology, and humanities. Students benefit from small class sizes, allowing for more interaction with professors and fostering a sense of community on campus.
In addition to its academic offerings, Penn State Berks provides a vibrant and active campus life. The campus hosts numerous clubs, organizations, and social events that allow students to explore and pursue their interests outside of the classroom. Athletics, arts, leadership development opportunities, and community service programs are all part of the enriching experience offered to students. With its commitment to academic excellence and a supportive community, Penn State Berks offers a well-rounded education that prepares students for their future careers and personal growth.
Located in Reading, PA and set in a suburban environment, Penn State Berks is a public comprehensive higher education institution. This school uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 98%. The freshman retention rate at Penn State Berks is 76.7% and the six-year graduation rate is 65%.
Learn more about what Penn State Berks has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
1,880
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
14:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
65%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. What are the admission requirements for Penn State Berks?
According to the most recent data, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 5,950 in 2025. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is very difficult to get into. Having a long tradition of academic success and a dedication to encouraging intellectual curiosity, Penn State Berks provides a superior educational experience.
Test Scores
Out of the number of those who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 24.96% and ACT scores 1.25%. 5% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 38.57% between 1,200 and 1,399, 48.57% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 7.86% between 800 and 999. The percent of freshman students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 14, 29 between 24-29, 43 in the range between 18-23, 9 between 12-17, and 14 between 6-11.
The ACT composite average score for all the enrolled students in 2025 was 24 while the average GPA was 3.3. Therefore, the chances are that you'll need a GPA higher than the average for acceptance, and the same goes for your ACT score.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 550 and an average SAT Math score of 555.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. Why is that information important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Penn State Berks was 76.7% in 2025, reflecting the superb quality of the educational programs at this institution.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This metric measures how efficiently students complete their degrees within a specific time period. This academic institution has the six-year graduation rate of 65%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Figuring out which school is the right fit for you is not a task you should take lightly. Knowing more about the student population can help you get a better understanding of the school's culture and life.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at Penn State Berks in 2025 was 1,888.
That year, the institution had 20.18% of out-of-state students. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 1,880, 68 of which were international students. The school admitted a total of 128 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 1,026 male and 713 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to expanding the diversity of its student population and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. A diverse student body brings together individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at Penn State Berks.
This school had 167 Asian students and 161 Afro-American students in 2025. 290 students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 65 identified with more than one race. The school also had 3 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 3 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 32 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to consider before applying to any college or university. The latest information on the expenses that most students at this school incur are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Penn State Berks? Here is what you need to know.
For local residents, public county and municipal institutions reported that tuition costs were $15,388. For out-of-state students, tuition fees amounted to $26,638. For the students coming from abroad, tuition at this school was $26,638, as well. Full-time students in 2025 needed to pay additional fees in the amount of $616.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $26,638 | $616 | $27,254 |
| In-State | $15,388 | $616 | $16,004 |
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to take into account the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,200.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for room and board?
At Penn State Berks, the 2025 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $15,346. If you only needed a dorm room, it cost $9,006 for the 2025 academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $11,936.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 15,388 |
| Room and Board | $ 15,346 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,200 |
| Total Expense | $ 31,934 |
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial aid: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. If you wish to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Penn State Berks, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 359 freshmen. Students of this school received an average of $12,915 in financial help.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
705 students were granted some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Penn State Berks isn't available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was found to be 1,090. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution reached $3,194,174, and state $2,044,656. The students of Penn State Berks received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $5,080,992, and external in the amount of $626,294.
$4,356
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
777 students, including freshmen, were awarded institutional non-need-based financial aid at this institution in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 280 full-time freshman. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $3,194,174 while the state aid is $28,244. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $900,728. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $390,370 USD.
Majors
Faculty
14:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio is the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
In 2025, this ratio at Penn State Berks was 14:1. That means that there were 14 times more students than teachers at this school. The faculty of this school consists of 167 members, according to the most recent data reported. Out of that number, there were 84 men and 83 women.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Penn State Berks is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some details about campus life at Penn State Berks.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership typically consists exclusively of current students and/or alumni.
There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. For students who have a passion for media and communication, Penn State Berks publishes its own newspaper.
Student Services
At Penn State Berks, there are many amenities that make life on campus pleasant and safe.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. Dormitory entrances at the school are electronically operated. There is a security patrol available 24/7. The transport/escort service operates during late hours.
All in all, campus life at Penn State Berks is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Penn State Berks.
Career Counselling
At Penn State Berks, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Penn State Berks is located in Reading, PA.
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Penn State Berks doesn't offer need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Penn State Berks is 98%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Penn State Berks is 76.7%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.