Rutgers University-Newark vs. Penn State Berks

Comparable Facts

Compare Rutgers University Newark in Newark, NJ with Penn State Berks in Reading, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Rutgers University Newark is larger than Penn State Berks based on total student enrollment (11,315 students vs. 1,884 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rutgers University Newark is located in Newark, NJ (Large City setting); Penn State Berks is in Reading, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Rutgers University Newark is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Berks is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Rutgers University Newark 14:1; Penn State Berks 13:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Berks are 10% lower than at Rutgers University Newark ($14,474 vs. $16,074).
• Out-of-state tuition is 36.4% higher at Rutgers University-Newark than at Penn State Berks (about $9,804 more per year; $36,762 vs. $26,958).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rutgers University Newark than at Penn State Berks (72% vs. 69%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Rutgers University Newark students is 85.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Berks students ($17,405 vs. $9,405).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at Rutgers University-Newark than at Penn State Berks (24 vs. 22, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at Rutgers University-Newark, test optional at Penn State Berks.
• Enrolled first-year students at Penn State Berks average a 3.39 high school GPA, 0.16 higher than at Rutgers University-Newark (3.23).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.1% at Rutgers University-Newark vs. 9.4% at Penn State Berks.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, Rutgers University Newark graduates have a $4,603 lower median loan debt than Penn State Berks graduates ($22,215 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Rutgers University-Newark graduates have an estimated $48 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Berks graduates ($229 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Berks graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers University-Newark students, three years after graduation (69% vs. 68%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.