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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.
Located in Erie, PA and set in a suburban environment, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College is a public comprehensive higher education institution. This educational institution operates on 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 recent 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
If you know as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will greatly improve. Check out some relevant info about admission at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College.
According to the newest information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 6,176 in 2025. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is very difficult to get into. With a rich history of academic excellence, it offers an unmatched educational experience.
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 total number of those who submitted test scores. 8.9% of the new students 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 new students 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 average ACT score for all the enrolled students in 2025 was 23 and 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 the percentage of college or university first-year students who return for their sophomore year. 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, demonstrating the exceptional quality of the educational experience 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. At this academic institution, the proportion of students graduating in six years is 67%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Choosing a school that is the right fit for you is not a simple task. Knowing more about the student population can help you get a clearer picture of the school's culture and life.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the institution had an enrollment of 3,336 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 16.48% for that year. There was a total of 3,244 students pursuing undergraduate degrees, including 158 international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 102.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 1,968 male and 1,166 female full-time students in 2025. This school had 12 full-time graduate male and 18 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
In order to enhance a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
This school had 168 Asian students and 131 Afro-American students in 2025. 166 undergraduates at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 126 identified with more than one race. The school also had 2 students who declared 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. 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 Erie, The Behrend College estimated tuition fees.
If you are an area resident, your tuition was $15,388. For students who don't live in the state in which the university is located, the tuition was $26,638 in 2025. If you are an international student at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, you should know that the 2025 tuition came to $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
The estimated cost of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into consideration as another important expense. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,200.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. How much do room and board fees average around at schools?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College was $15,346 in 2025. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school cost $9,006, according to the data from 2025. 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 help: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get informed about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College.
The most recent records show that 585 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $14,555.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
1,227 students acquired some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College isn't available to international students. The overall 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 was $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
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.
1,557 students, including freshmen, obtained institutional non-need-based financial aid at this school in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 501 full-time freshmen. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $5,856,796 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $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
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio represents 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 Erie, The Behrend College was 13:1: that means 13 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. The faculty of this school consists of 300 members, according to the most recent data reported. Out of that number, there were 192 men and 108 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. Find out some information about social life at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College.
Its campus is 725 acres in size.
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.
For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. 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
At Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, there are many amenities that make life on campus pleasant and safe.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a 24-hour security patrol. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
All in all, campus life at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
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. There is 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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According to the latest information, 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.