Nichols vs. Penn State Berks

Comparable Facts

Compare Nichols College in Dudley, MA with Penn State Berks in Reading, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Berks is larger than Nichols based on total student enrollment (1,884 students vs. 1,392 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Nichols College is located in Dudley, MA (Rural Fringe setting); Penn State Berks is in Reading, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Nichols College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Berks is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Nichols College 15:1; Penn State Berks 13:1.

Nichols vs. Penn State Berks Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Nichols or Penn State Berks? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Berks than Nichols ($23,721 vs. $32,337).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Berks are 8.4% lower than at Nichols College ($14,474 vs. $15,800).
• Nichols College is 167.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Berks (about $26,733 more per year; $42,705.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 58.4% higher at Nichols than at Penn State Berks (about $15,747 more per year; $42,705.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Nichols College than at Penn State Berks (99% vs. 69%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Nichols College students is 174.4% larger than aid received by Penn State Berks students ($25,809 vs. $9,405).

Nichols vs. Penn State Berks Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Nichols or Penn State Berks? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Penn State Berks and Nichols.

• Nichols College reports an open admissions policy.
• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Berks (1180) is 50 points higher than at Nichols (1130).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Nichols College 1028/1236; Penn State Berks 1090/1275.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPenn State Berks 18/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Nichols - Open admission; Penn State Berks - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Berks students have a 0.49 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at Nichols (2.9).
• Penn State Berks has a higher acceptance rate (98.7%) than Nichols (80.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.1% at Nichols vs. 9.4% at Penn State Berks.

Nichols vs. Penn State Berks Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Nichols and Penn State Berks? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Penn State Berks's six-year graduation rate (55%) is higher than Nichols College's (43%).
• Graduates from Penn State Berks earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than Nichols graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $51,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Berks graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Nichols graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Berks graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Nichols graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Penn State Berks graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Nichols students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 68%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.