Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College Acceptance Rate, Admissions & Graduation

Where This School Stands

Behrend College is in Erie, Pennsylvania, within Erie County and that city's metropolitan area. Its census code places it in a suburban setting: within the urbanized area but outside the heart of the city. What that feels like—whether it is rural, whether it is a small city, whether there is activity nearby—is something you can know only by going there. If your child plans to live at home and drive every day, do not rely on the travel time shown on a map: drive that route yourself on a weekday, at the exact time your child would have class.

It is a four-year public university, and IPEDS—the federal system through which the United States government collects data from every college and university in the country—lists a master's degree as the highest level it reports offering. That is an institutional fact, not a promise about your child's specific field: if your child is interested in graduate study, ask whether that particular field connects undergraduate and graduate study there. And before comparing prices with another school, there is one question you need to ask first: are they quoting you the Pennsylvania resident rate or the rate for someone from outside the state? It is the difference between two very different numbers, as you will see below.

One curious note: in the Carnegie Classification—the system that categorizes United States colleges and universities by type—Behrend College appears outside the classified universe. That does not say whether it is good or bad; it says that this particular label was not assigned to it. Do not let an empty box decide anything for you: ask admissions what accreditation the school has and exactly what degree it awards, and verify that name yourself on the Department of Education website.

It also does not appear under any of three specific designations: it is not a historically Black college or university, a tribal college or university, or a land-grant institution. Of the 3,012 colleges and universities in this national directory, 138 have at least one of the three designations. Behrend's absence from that list does not say which students it serves or how your child will feel there. Ask directly which cultural centers and student organizations exist today, and confirm that by speaking with someone who already attends the campus.

A Small Community, With Few Latino Students Within It

Behrend had 3,323 students enrolled in the official fall count: a medium-sized school. Compared with 519 similar selective public schools in this census, it is on the smaller side—at least seven out of every ten of those schools have more students. Of that total, 3,226 are undergraduates and only 97 are graduate students: it is primarily a bachelor's-degree school, not a graduate school.

Here is a fact worth stating directly, without cushioning it: among undergraduates, 4 out of every 100 students were reported as Hispanic or Latino. That is a small share. Among 519 similar schools that reported this figure, Behrend ranks in the bottom quarter. There are also very few adult students: 4 out of every 100 are between 25 and 64 years old. And there are more men than women—out of every 100 students, 37 are women.

Having few Latino students does not make the school bad, just as having many would not make it good by itself. This number tells you who is enrolled today, nothing more. If your child will be one of the few, do not stop at the figure: ask which student groups and support services exist, and try to speak with a Latino student who already attends before deciding. The number describes the entire school; your child's program may feel different.

Being a small school does not guarantee more attention for your child, just as being large does not guarantee more options. Ask about that by program, not based on the university's total enrollment.

How the Academic Year Works and What the School Does With What Your Child Already Knows

The academic calendar follows semesters: two long terms of about 15 weeks each. Behrend reported that it accepts credit for AP exams, as well as what IPEDS calls credit for life experience—independent study, noncredit adult courses, work, portfolios, prior licenses, military training, or other pathways. It also enrolls high school students in college courses for credit through a formal dual-enrollment program.

That sounds good, but there is an important caveat: reporting that it accepts AP does not mean it awards credit for every exam at every score. The report does not say what scores are required, how many credits are awarded, or whether those credits apply to your child's specific program. Request the equivalency evaluation in writing before enrolling. Do not budget for the savings until you have it in hand.

As for what students study there: in the most recently reported year, Behrend awarded 661 bachelor's degrees across 18 program families. By far the largest family was business and management, with 216 degrees—33 out of every 100 of the total. Among 514 similar schools, Behrend is in the quarter awarding the fewest bachelor's degrees per year. Eighteen families represented in the report do not mean eighteen complete majors; a family groups several programs whose numbers may differ greatly from one another. If your child wants to study something outside business, verify the exact program, not the general list.

The ratio of students to instructional staff is 12 to 1, calculated using full-time equivalents. Compared with similar schools, it falls in the bottom quarter—a low aggregate ratio. But be careful: this figure does not tell you the actual size of a first-year classroom or the method the institution used to calculate it. It is an institutional average, not a promise about your child's class.

Behrend also reports structured academic opportunities: study abroad, undergraduate research outside the classroom, a complete program that can be taken entirely at night or on weekends, and pathways preparing students for teacher certification, including state approval for initial certification.

Getting In Is Relatively Easy. Staying and Graduating Are Another Story

Let us turn to what probably interests you most. Behrend does not have open admissions—it reviews specific parts of an application before saying yes. Of nine possible considerations, it marks three as required: the high school transcript, the high school GPA, and the English proficiency exam when applicable. The recommended course plan and personal essay are not required, but they are considered if submitted. The application fee is $65.

If your child studied outside the United States or attended high school in Spanish, ask now whether the English exam applies and what qualifies for an exemption. This is the kind of requirement families discover late, when there is no longer enough comfortable time to address it.

And now the figure that will probably change how you see this school: out of 4,827 first-time applicants, Behrend admitted 4,620. That is 96 out of every 100. Among 519 similar selective public schools, Behrend is among those accepting the largest share—at least nine out of every ten schools in that group accept an equal or smaller percentage. Only 207 out of 4,827 applicants did not receive an offer.

Here is the honest translation: your child's energy will go further toward meeting the deadline and completing the application carefully than toward worrying about competing for a spot. But being easy to enter does not mean the school is inexpensive or that most students finish. Before deciding, look at the net price and graduation rate—those two calculations matter more than the admissions figure, and you will see them shortly.

There is another number worth understanding clearly: out of every 100 admitted students, only 19 enrolled. That is a typical enrollment rate compared with similar schools—neither high nor low, but in the middle of the group. Do not read it as a mark against the school: the federal record does not explain why each family chose what it chose. What it does tell you is useful: receiving an admission letter is not the same as deciding to attend. Wait for your own letter showing the net price—what the year will actually cost you—before removing this school from your list or keeping it there.

Regarding standardized tests: the SAT and ACT are not required. If your child submits them, they are considered; if not, the application proceeds normally. Among enrolled students, 34 out of every 100 submitted SAT scores, and the middle half of those students scored between 560 and 660 in reading and writing and between 550 and 660 in mathematics. Keep in mind that those ranges apply only to students who enrolled and submitted scores. They do not represent all applicants, and that 560 is not a minimum, nor is that 660 a guarantee of anything.

Regarding transfers: of the bachelor's-degree-seeking class that entered in 2017, 24 out of every 100 transferred without finishing there and enrolled at another institution. That is a middle-range rate compared with similar schools. Transferring colleges is not failing. It is still useful for your child to know, before needing the information, how to request the documents required to transfer credits if that becomes necessary. Separately, in the fall of 2023, 91 students entered Behrend for the first time after previously studying at another institution—this figure cannot be added to or compared with the transfer-out figure, and neither figure tells you how many credits were accepted. Request that information in writing with the course list in hand.

The Price: Two Numbers, and the Difference Matters Greatly

At Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College, among 64 first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid, paid the in-state or in-district rate, and had EFC records showing family income below $30,000, the average net price was $14,702. Among 67 students from the same population with EFC family income from $48,001 to $75,000, it was $19,588; among 148 students with EFC family income above $110,000, it was $29,572. For dependent students, the band combines their parents' income with their own.

The difference between the average for the lowest-income band (64 students) and the highest-income band (148 students) is $14,870. These are group averages, not a prediction of your family's price. Among first-year students who received any grant or scholarship, the average was $20,964.

Among the 519 schools of the same type and control included in this census that reported this figure with the same time coverage, this school falls in the most expensive quarter for the lowest-income families. That does not mean you should rule it out. It means you should request the financial aid letter before deciding.

Because the price changes so much from one income band to another, correctly identifying yours comes first. The income bands in this profile describe first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid; at public institutions, they use the in-state or in-district rate. The overall average with grant aid, when shown, describes first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal, state, local, or institutional grants or scholarships. The financial aid letter you receive is what matters.

The Aid That Reaches Students and the Debt That Accumulates

Aid that does not have to be repaid—scholarships and grants—reached 71 out of every 100 degree-seeking students. Among those who received it, the annual average was $10,643. The Pell Grant, which is specifically for low-income families, reached a smaller group: 27 out of every 100. The difference between those two figures may include state, institutional, or other sources of aid that this breakdown does not allow you to attribute precisely; it is worth asking directly which programs make up that aid.

And now the loan portion, stated without embellishment: 57 out of every 100 undergraduate students received a federal loan during the 2022-23 academic year. Compared with similar schools, Behrend is on the high side—at least seven out of every ten similar schools had a smaller share of students with debt. Among those who borrowed, the average amount received that year was $6,339. If your child borrowed a similar amount in each of the four years of the degree, the total would be around $25,356, not including interest.

Financing an education with debt is common here, not the exception. Calculate the full amount before signing anything, and remember that this average covers only federal loans in the student's name: it does not include what parents borrow separately, credit card balances, or the total debt carried upon graduation. That last number does not appear in any available federal report; you calculate it by adding what your family actually borrows, year by year.

Behrend also offers an installment tuition payment plan as an additional way to manage the cost.

Campus Life, Athletics, and Support

Behrend has institution-controlled housing with a reported maximum capacity of 1,603 students. It does not require all first-time students to live there—but that does not tell you whether a particular program does. It also offers meal plans, although the number of meals per week varies by the plan you choose. Before removing housing and food from your budget, request the year's rate, the housing application deadline, and whether a place is guaranteed or your child will be placed on a waiting list, all in writing.

There is an ROTC opportunity, with only one branch confirmed in writing: the Army. The Navy and Air Force are not marked in the report. Not confirmed is not the same as impossible—it is an unanswered question to ask directly if your child is interested.

In athletics, Behrend is affiliated with the NCAA and reports membership for basketball, baseball, and cross-country or track and field. The affiliation belongs to the school; it does not guarantee your child a place on a team. If athletics matters, write directly to the coach: ask whether there is space, which division the team competes in, and whether that sport awards athletic scholarships.

Regarding distance education: Behrend offers it at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, but in practice almost no one uses it as a fully remote mode of study—0 out of every 100 undergraduate students took their entire course load remotely in the most recent count, one of the lowest proportions among comparable schools. The institution explicitly reported that it does not offer a complete undergraduate program that can be completed entirely through distance education. If that is important to your family, confirm it in writing for the exact program that interests your child.

Reported services include combined academic and career counseling, employment support for current students, a comprehensive transition program for students with intellectual disabilities, participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program for veterans, a dedicated point of contact for military families, and a specific web address for disability services.

Who Stays and Who Finishes

Here we reach the numbers that, to me, matter more than how easy it is to get in.

Of the class that entered in the fall of 2022 as full-time, bachelor's-degree-seeking students, totaling 819 students, 82 out of every 100 met the official retention criterion: they were still enrolled there or had already graduated one year later. Compared with similar schools, Behrend ranks near the top of the group. It is a good figure, and it should be stated as clearly as the difficult ones: more students stayed than left. But the report does not separate those who were still studying from those who had already graduated, nor does it explain what happened to the rest.

Now consider graduation, which is a different number based on its own cohort. Of the 1,041 students who entered in 2017 as first-time, full-time students, 474 had a Behrend degree six years later. That is 46 out of every 100—nearly half and half. Within the four-year window, the figure falls to 32 out of every 100. Compared with similar schools, Behrend ranks below the middle of the group: more than half of those schools graduated a larger share of their class.

I am not going to soften this: after six years, slightly more than half of that class still did not have a bachelor's degree from Behrend. The report counts outcomes; it does not explain the reasons behind each individual case. What you can do with this information is ask, before deciding, which specific supports are available to help students finish on time and how long the particular program that interests your child actually takes to complete.

There is a third view at eight years, using a different cohort that also includes part-time students: of the 1,370 students who entered between 2015 and 2016, 49 out of every 100 had a Behrend degree or certificate as of the August 2023 cutoff. Among Pell Grant recipients, the figure was 46 out of every 100—four percentage points below the figure for those who did not receive one. Compared with similar schools, it also ranks below the middle of the group. Not appearing in this count with a degree from this school does not prove that the person left higher education: the student may have graduated from another institution, and this profile does not capture that with certainty.

This eight-year measure is a snapshot, not a bill. It does not measure how much each person paid or how much additional time it cost. Before committing, request in writing how long the exact program that interests your child takes to complete, how its required courses are scheduled, and how the total cost changes if the path takes longer.

What You Know Now and What Is Still Yours to Decide

You now know something real about Behrend College: a small school with a very open admissions door, a high price—especially for out-of-state or lower-income families—heavy reliance on loans, solid first-year retention, and a six-year graduation outcome that still leaves half of each class without a degree.

None of this tells you whether it is the right school for your child. That depends on what your child wants to study, what your child has built so far, and what your family can and is willing to pay. Your child's responsibilities are the effort, curiosity, and decisions made inside and outside the classroom. Yours are the money, the deadlines, and the uncomfortable questions before signing. The university's role is to admit, deny, and offer—or not offer—the aid that makes everything else possible.

Put this piece together with the other two. Do not leave it on its own.

Source note: The information in this article comes from data reported by the institution to the United States Department of Education's IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System), corresponding primarily to the 2022-23 and 2023-24 cycles. Best College Aid does not represent Penn State Erie, The Behrend College or any federal or state government agency.