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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 institution follows 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%.
Read 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. Here are the most relevant facts you should know about admission at Penn State Berks.
According to the most recent information reported, 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 offers a unique educational experience.
Test Scores
24.96% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 1.25% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 5% of the freshmen 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% of the students 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 accepted students in 2025 was 24 while the average GPA was 3.3. That means you'll most likely need an above-average GPA to get accepted as well as an above-average ACT score.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 550 and an average SAT Math score of 555.
Retention Rate
The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Penn State Berks was 76.7%, indicative of the exceptional educational experience and supportive environment at this school.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This rate shows how many students complete their degrees in a certain number of years. The six-year graduation rate at this institution stands at 65%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Deciding if a school is the best fit for you is not an easy task. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by finding out more about its student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school enrolled 1,888 students.
That year, the institution had an out-of-state student body percentage of 20.18. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 1,880, 68 of which were foreign students. 128 students were admitted as 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
Higher Education is dedicated to increasing student diversity and enhancing students' feelings of inclusion and belonging. A diverse student body brings together individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 167, while the number of African American students was 161. 290 undergraduate students at this school declared 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, and 3 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 32 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to think about before you apply. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about Penn State Berks estimated tuition fees.
If you are an area resident, your tuition was $15,388. Tuition fees were $26,638 for students coming from a different state. Tuition costs at Penn State Berks for international students equalled $26,638. Fees per academic year required of full-time students came to a total of $616 in 2025.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $26,638 | $616 | $27,254 |
| In-State | $15,388 | $616 | $16,004 |
Books and Supplies
The estimated price of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into consideration as another important financial element. 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 lodging and meals?
At Penn State Berks, the 2025 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $15,346. If you only wanted a dormitory 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
Getting some financial support in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be very important for finishing your studies. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid students could get at Penn State Berks.
The most recent records show that 359 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average financial aid package awarded to students amounted to $12,915.
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.
There were 705 students who secured need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Penn State Berks isn't available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 1,090. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution was $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 financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
777 students, including freshmen, received institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this school in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 280 full-time freshmen. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $3,194,174 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $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. $390,370 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
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.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Penn State Berks was 14:1: that means 14 students per one teacher. This school has recently reported to have 167 faculty members. Out of that number, there were 84 men and 83 women.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Check out some details about students' life at Penn State Berks.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. Interested in media and communication? Penn State Berks publishes its own newspaper.
Student Services
At Penn State Berks, there are many amenities required for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a 24-hour security patrol. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
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. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset 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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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Penn State Berks is 98%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Penn State Berks is 76.7%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2025 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 © 2025 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
