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Erie , PA
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College is a four-year public college located in Erie, Pennsylvania. It is one of the fourteen Commonwealth campuses of Pennsylvania State University and offers a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs. The college is known for its strong emphasis on experiential learning, with extensive internship and co-op programs available to students in various fields.
Behrend College offers more than 40 undergraduate majors across various disciplines, including business, engineering, liberal arts, and science. The college houses the prestigious Sam and Irene Black School of Business, which provides students with comprehensive business education through innovative programs and real-world experiences. The college also offers graduate programs in fields such as business administration, nursing, and data engineering and analytics.
Beyond academic excellence, Penn State Behrend boasts a vibrant campus life and a wide array of student organizations and activities. Students can participate in clubs and organizations that cater to diverse interests, from academic and professional clubs to cultural, athletic, and social groups. The college also competes in NCAA Division III athletics and has a strong athletic program with a range of men's and women's sports teams.
Overall, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College provides a well-rounded education, combining rigorous academics, hands-on experiences, and a supportive community. It prepares students for successful careers and cultivates their personal and professional development through its extensive resources, exceptional faculty, and diverse campus life.
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College is a public comprehensive higher education institution located in Erie, PA and set in a suburban environment. This school follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 96%. The freshman retention rate at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College is 83.3% and the six-year graduation rate is 67%.
Here are some latest data on important things to consider about Penn State Erie, The Behrend College.
Quick Facts
3,244
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
13:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
67%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to find out as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the school in order to improve your chances of being accepted. What are the admission requirements for Penn State Erie, The Behrend College?
According to the newest data, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 6,176 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. This renowned school with a rich history offers an unparalleled learning experience to its students.
Test Scores
31.33% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 3.79% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 8.9% of the freshmen submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 49.82% between 1,200 and 1,399, 36.65% between 1,000 and 1,199, 3.56% between 800 and 999, and 1.07% between 600 and 799. The percent of incoming freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 35, 41 between 24-29, 21 in the range between 18-23, and 3 between 12-17.
The ACT composite average score for all the admitted students in 2025 was 23 while the average GPA was 3.53. 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 SAT Critical Reading average score was 570 for the accepted students, while the average SAT Math score was 595.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. That information can tell you if the majority of freshmen liked their first year enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Penn State Erie, The Behrend College was 83.3% in 2025, a reflection of the high standards and excellent educational experience at this school.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this institution stands at 67%, 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. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by learning more about its student body.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College in 2025 was 3,336.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 16.48% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 3,244, 158 of which were international students. The school admitted a total of 102 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 1,968 male and 1,166 female full-time students in 2025. 12 full-time graduate men and 18 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. A diverse student body brings together individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 168, and the number of African American students was 131. 166 students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 126 identified with more than one race. The school also had 2 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 5 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 47 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
One of the most crucial things to take into consideration when applying to any college or university is the financial component. Here are some important facts on Penn State Erie, The Behrend College costs that most students encounter at this school.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition price for this university.
For the students who live in the area, the tuition cost was $15,388, as reported by public county or municipal institutions. Tuition fees were $26,638 for students coming from a different state. For the students coming from abroad, tuition at this school was $26,638, as well. Full-time students in 2025 were obliged 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 consider the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The approximate cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is $1,200.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What do colleges and universities typically charge for room and board?
At Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, the 2025 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $15,346. If you only needed a dormitory room, you had to pay $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
Financial support for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get informed about need-based and non-need-based aid at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College.
The most recent records show that 585 freshmen received some sort of financial help. Students of this school received an average of $14,555 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
There were 1,227 students who obtained need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College isn't available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 1,951. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution stood at $5,856,796, and state $3,792,815. The students of Penn State Erie, The Behrend College received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $10,405,959, and external in the amount of $1,270,143.
$5,023
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-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.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 1,557 students overall (including freshmen) at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 501 full-time freshmen. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $5,856,796 while the state aid is $79,389. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $2,217,149. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $1,348,194 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
13:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
In 2025, this ratio at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College was 13:1. That means that there were 13 times more students than teachers at this school. The faculty of this school consists of 300 members, according to the most recent data reported. This number included 192 men and 108 women.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some details about students' life at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College.
It has a campus size of 725 acres.
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.
In case you're interested in acting, there is a drama club you can consider joining. For students interested in media and communication, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College offers a number of services vital for a pleasant and secure life on campus.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
All in all, campus life at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College 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 Erie, The Behrend College.
Career Counselling
At Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, 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. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Penn State Erie, The Behrend College is located in Erie, PA.
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Penn State Erie, The Behrend College 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 Erie, The Behrend College is 96%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Penn State Erie, The Behrend College is 83.3%.
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.
