Penn State Erie, The Behrend College

On average, college tuition rises about 3% year.

Remember, the advertized cost of tuition doesn't tell the full story. Many students owe much less than the sticker price after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts are awarded. Additionally, student loans can make the amount you do have to pay for college feel more doable until after graduation.

Penn State Erie, The Behrend College meets 62.9% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College is around $11,771 a year.

Students in the class of 2023 who had taken out student loans graduated with an average of $41,942 of debt.

Penn State Erie, The Behrend College: In-state vs. Out-of-State Tuition

**Penn State Erie, The Behrend College is a public, state institution, **

Public colleges and universities receive funding from the state government. These institutions offer a lower cost of attendance for those who qualify as Pennsylvania residents.

Choosing a college where you qualify for in-state residency can cut the cost of college tuition. Don't forget to check your state's criteria for in-state tuition. Each state has different requirements to qualify as in-state resident. The most common requirement is that students must have lived in the state for a full year before starting school. There may be additional requirements too, depending on the state you and your parents currently reside in.

Explore other Pennsylvania colleges

Penn State Erie, The Behrend College International Student Tuition

Tuition at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College is the same for each student.

Students from outside of the U.S. are not eligible for federal financial aid, but may qualify for private or school-specific aid and scholarships.

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Penn State Erie, The Behrend College Living Expenses, Fees, and More

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In addition to the cost of tuition, room and board, books, transportation and fees are also costs it consider when planning for college. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College.

Room and Board Costs at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College

Meal-plan costs may vary depending on how many meals are included in the plan you choose.

Cost of Books at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College

First-year students are sometimes surprised by how much books and supplies cost–and not in a good way. The actual cost of books and supplies depends on the courses you take and what kinds of books and materials they require. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy books from students who have already taken the course.

Yearly Fees

Most schools charge some yearly fees to help cover the cost of facilties, like the library, gym and computer labs.

There may be optional fees associated with participating in special activities, like joining a fraternity or sorority, or playing on an intramural sports team. Most colleges offer resources for students with financial need to find ways to lower or eliminate these costs.

Transportation costs

The total cost of transportation in college depends on a few key factors. Will you take a subway, car or an airplane to get to school? Is on-campus parking free, or will you need to budget for parking? Is the campus easy to get around on foot? Do you plan to bring a car or are you planning to use busses, subways, or other modes of transportation? All of these factors can drastically impact your estimated cost of transportation. Keeping in mind, first-year students are allowed to park a car on campus.

Where are a college is located can also have a big effect on transportation costs. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the other hand transportation in a city could be expensive, but cities may offer more trains, busses and low-cost flight options to actually get to school. Penn State Erie, The Behrend Collegeis in a suburb in Pennsylvania.

Other Costs

When budgeting for college, be sure to take into account the cost of things like movies, takeouts, furniture or appliances for your dorm or housing, and essentials like laundry detergent, toothpaste and toilet paper.

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Financial Breakdown for Penn State Erie, The Behrend College

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Now, let’s look at the breakdown of all expenses, to get a better idea of what is really costs to go to Penn State Erie, The Behrend College.

How Much Does Penn State Erie, The Behrend College Cost?

What will the cost of attending Penn State Erie, The Behrend College be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2023 Total Tuition and Expenses

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.

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Penn State Erie, The Behrend College Financial Aid

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The majority of Penn State Erie, The Behrend College undergrads use financial aid to help pay for school. In 2023, 1,973 of the 3,210 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Penn State Erie, The Behrend College meets 62.9% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $11,771 a year. Around 64.35% of Penn State Erie, The Behrend College undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. Penn State Erie, The Behrend College graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $41,942 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans	$23,575
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College-Specific Loans	$22,031
Private Loans	$45,340

Most Common Loans for Penn State Erie, The Behrend College Students
Federal Loans	62.45%
Institutional Loans	1.09%
Private loans	26.53%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on Penn State Erie, The Behrend College financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2023, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College awarded 1,032 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $16.9 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $2.38 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Net Cost of Penn State Erie, The Behrend College

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for Penn State Erie, The Behrend College students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College was $11,771 in 2023. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of Penn State Erie, The Behrend College seem more manageable.

What will attending Penn State Erie, The Behrend College really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families get a better idea of the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the Penn State Erie, The Behrend College's net cost calculator on their website.

Penn State Erie, The Behrend College Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Students cannot pay tuition in installments. Contact the financial aid office to verify this and discuss options.

Does Penn State Erie, The Behrend College Offer Tuition Waivers?

Schools sometimes waiver tuition for certain groups, to make attending more affordable. Some schools offer tuition waivers for employees and their family members, underrepresented students, or military students. Even if you qualify for a waiver, students are usually responsible for housing, meal plans, and other expenses.

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.

Penn State Erie, The Behrend College's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and supporting students.

For more information about Penn State Erie, The Behrend College's endowment, check with the school directly.

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Learn More About Penn State Erie, The Behrend College

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