Penn State Berks vs. Randolph

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Berks is larger than Randolph based on total student enrollment (1,884 students vs. 816 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Berks is located in Reading, PA (Rural Fringe setting); Randolph College is in Lynchburg, VA (Small City setting).
• Penn State Berks is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Randolph College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Berks 13:1; Randolph College 8:1.

Penn State Berks vs. Randolph Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Berks or Randolph? 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 Randolph College than Penn State Berks ($21,668 vs. $23,721).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Randolph College are 14.7% lower than at Penn State Berks ($12,350 vs. $14,474).
• Randolph College is 89.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Berks (about $14,338 more per year; $30,310.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.4% higher at Randolph than at Penn State Berks (about $3,352 more per year; $30,310.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Randolph College than at Penn State Berks (100% vs. 69%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Randolph College students is 148.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Berks students ($23,372 vs. $9,405).

Penn State Berks vs. Randolph Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Berks or Randolph? 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 Randolph and Penn State Berks.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Berks (1180) is 20 points higher than at Randolph (1160).
• Incoming Penn State Berks students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 22) as students at Randolph (22).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Berks 1090/1275; Randolph College 1100/1210.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Berks 18/27; Randolph College 19/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Berks - Test optional; Randolph - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Berks students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at Randolph (3.35).
• Penn State Berks has a higher acceptance rate (98.7%) than Randolph (93.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.4% at Penn State Berks vs. 11.7% at Randolph.

Penn State Berks vs. Randolph Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Berks and Randolph? 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).

• Randolph College's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Penn State Berks's (55%).
• Graduates from Penn State Berks earn a median of about $12,100 more per year than Randolph graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $43,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Berks graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Randolph graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Berks graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Randolph graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Penn State Berks graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Randolph students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 63%)

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.