Academic Comparison between Penn State Behrend and PAFA

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College and Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts are frequently compared when students or parents prepare college admissions. Penn State Behrend is a four-year, public school located in Erie, 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 Behrend 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 Behrend ($26,668).
  • It is harder to admit to PAFA than Penn State Behrend.
  • Penn State Behrend has more students with 3,295 students while PAFA has 172 students.
  • PAFA has a lower number of students per faculty with 5 to 1 while Penn State Behrend's ratio is 12 to 1.
  • Penn State Behrend has more full-time faculties with 286 faculties while PAFA has 19 full-time faculties.
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Comparison Table with important Academic Factors

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend Collegevs.Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Erie, PennsylvaniaLocationPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Four-year, PublicSchool Typefour-year, Private (not-for-profit)
Master'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
74%% Receiving Financial Aid98%
$10,004Average Amount of Financial Aid$25,119
96.00 %Acceptance Rates88.02 %
18.99 %Yield (Enrollment Rates)11.24 %
1,210SAT Score-
26ACT Score-
42 %Graduation Rate50 %
25 %Transfer-out Rate36 %
82 %Retention Rate80 %
3,295Student Population172
286Number of Faculties19
12 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