Academic Comparison between Penn State Berks and PAFA

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks and Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts are frequently compared when students or parents prepare college admissions. Penn State Berks is a four-year, public school located in Reading, PA and PAFA is a four-year, private (not-for-profit) school located in Philadelphia, PA.

Comparison at a Glance

The following list compares two colleges briefly in important perspectives. You can compare them with comprehensive information on full comparison page.

  • Penn State Berks is a public and PAFA is a private (not-for-profit) school and both are four-year schools.
  • PAFA has more expensive tuition & fees ($44,600) than Penn State Berks ($26,668).
  • It is harder to admit to PAFA than Penn State Berks.
  • Penn State Berks has more students with 2,077 students while PAFA has 172 students.
  • PAFA has a lower number of students per faculty with 5 to 1 while Penn State Berks's ratio is 13 to 1.
  • Penn State Berks has more full-time faculties with 140 faculties while PAFA has 19 full-time faculties.
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Comparison Table with important Academic Factors

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berksvs.Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Reading, PennsylvaniaLocationPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Four-year, PublicSchool Typefour-year, Private (not-for-profit)
Bachelor's degreeHighest Degree OfferedMaster's degree
Carnegie ClassificationSchool of art, music, and design
In-State$15,944
Out-Of-State$26,668
2024 Tuition & Fees$44,600
72%% Receiving Financial Aid98%
$9,229Average Amount of Financial Aid$25,119
97.01 %Acceptance Rates88.02 %
10.00 %Yield (Enrollment Rates)11.24 %
1,210SAT Score-
27ACT Score-
33 %Graduation Rate50 %
25 %Transfer-out Rate36 %
76 %Retention Rate80 %
2,077Student Population172
140Number of Faculties19
13 to 1Students to Faculty Ratio5 to 1
Distance Learning (Online Classes), ROTC, Study Abroad, Weekend/Evening College, Teacher CertificationSpecial Learning OpportunitiesDistance Learning (Online Classes)
Academic/career counseling service, Employment servicesOn Campus Student ServicesAcademic/career counseling service