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Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks

Public Bachelor's Fair 55/100

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Reading, Pennsylvania

About Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks is a public institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Reading, Pennsylvania. It enrolls 1,872 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: berks.psu.edu

Acceptance: 98.7%
Graduation: 61%
Net Price: $24,356
Median Earnings (10yr): $63,435
Enrollment: 1,872
Student : Faculty: 13:1

Accreditor Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Fair

55/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 30

Value 46

Affordability 35

Selectivity 27

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 98.7%, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate

98.7%

Open

SAT Range (25th–75th)

1090 – 1275

Reading + Math combined

ACT Range (25th–75th)

18 – 27

Cumulative composite

Test Policy Not Considered Standardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $24,356 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$24,356

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

29%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

52%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state): $15,972
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state): $26,958
Room & Board (on-campus): $14,474
Room & Board (off-campus): $15,274
Books & Supplies: $1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus): $5,020
Other Expenses (off-campus): $5,020
Total Cost of Attendance: $32,242

Application fee: $65 (one-time, due at submission)

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$16,429
$30,001 – $48,000

$15,862
$48,001 – $75,000

$23,583
$75,001 – $110,000

$25,465
Over $110,000

$29,541

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$4,750

10% percentile

$8,750

25% percentile

$25,000

Median percentile

$27,000

75% percentile

$34,000

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $20,980 ↓ $4,020

No Pell $19,500 ↓ $5,500

Dependent students $19,500 ↓ $5,500

Independent students $19,486 ↓ $5,514

Female students $20,000 ↓ $5,000

Male students $19,500 ↓ $5,500

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($25,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

61% of full-time students who enrolled at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks graduate within six years, and 77% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

61%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

77%

Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks earn a median of $63,435 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$63,435

Earning > $25K

84%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$50,100

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$63,100

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$50,800

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$53,000

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$62,300

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $13,000, about 21% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 14.5 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Excellent. 91% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks is home to 1,872 students, a mid-sized community.

Total Enrolled

1,872

Part-Time

First-Generation

29%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 57.9% 1,083

Hispanic 15.5% 290

Asian 8.9% 167

Black 8.6% 161

Other 3.8% 71

International 3.6% 68

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Large Suburb Reading, Pennsylvania

Housing

Mostly residential 805 beds on campus

Adult Learners

7% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

Designation

Branch campus

What You Can Study

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks offers a varied set of programs: 27 distinct programs across 16 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

5 Programs

Business

Business $68K ($48K–$95K)
Accounting $76K ($56K–$97K)
Hospitality Management $57K ($41K–$74K)

1 Program

Engineering

Mechanical Engineering $92K ($78K–$109K)

2 Programs

Biology

Biochemistry & Biophysics $65K ($45K–$88K)
Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)

4 Programs

Computer Science

IT Administration $85K ($59K–$118K)
Information Science $85K ($60K–$117K)
IT Administration $85K ($59K–$118K)

2 Programs

Health

Medical Assisting $69K ($46K–$91K)
Rehabilitation $56K ($40K–$74K)

1 Program

Engineering Tech

Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians $84K ($66K–$103K)

1 Program

Recreation & Fitness

Kinesiology $55K ($39K–$73K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks is 13:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty

13:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Avg Faculty Salary

$86,809

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

125 instructional faculty across 5 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	24	19%	$112,842
Associate Professors	48	38%	$89,244
Assistant Professors	7	6%	$77,226
Instructors	41	33%	$74,053
Lecturers	5	4%	$56,488

Pros & Cons of Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Solid post-graduation earnings

CONS

Above-average net price
Modest first-year retention
No graduate programs offered at this institution

Best for: Based on the data, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.

Frequently Asked Questions about Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks.

Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks hard to get into?

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 98.7%.

What is the acceptance rate at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks?

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks has an acceptance rate of 98.7%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What SAT score do you need for Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks scored between 1090 and 1275 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

What ACT score do you need for Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks scored between 18 and 27 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

How much does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks cost?

The average net price after aid at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks is $24,356 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks worth it?

Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $63,435 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $24,356 per year. That's roughly 2.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks known for?

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks is best known for its programs in Business, Mechanical Engineering, Accounting. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks are $63,435, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks accredited?

Yes. Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

How many students attend Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks?

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks enrolls 1,872 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks?

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks graduates 61% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks a public or private college?

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks is a Public institution.

Where is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks located?

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks is located in Reading, Pennsylvania.

What programs does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks offer?

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks offers 27 distinct programs. The most popular include Business, Mechanical Engineering, Accounting.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.