Penn State Erie, The Behrend College: A Comprehensive Overview

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College (PSB), often shortened to Penn State Behrend, is a public satellite campus of Penn State University, located just outside Erie, Pennsylvania. As one of the largest of Penn State's commonwealth campuses, PSB offers a blend of academic rigor and a supportive community environment. With approximately 4,400 students enrolled in Behrend programs both on campus and online, the college provides diverse opportunities for higher education.

Historical Background

The land that became Penn State Behrend was donated to the university by Mary Behrend on June 28, 1948, in memory of her husband, Ernst, co-founder of Hammermill Paper Company. This act of generosity laid the foundation for what would become a thriving educational institution. In 1959, when the Penn State system was reorganized, The Behrend Center officially became the Behrend campus. The 1960s and early 1970s saw rapid growth in both enrollment and the physical campus. A significant milestone was reached on January 20, 1973, when the Penn State Board of Trustees granted four-year college and graduate status to Penn State Behrend. This made it the first Penn State location outside University Park to achieve such status, leading to its renaming as the Behrend College of the Pennsylvania State University.

Campus Environment and Facilities

PSB is a residential college with one of the largest campuses in the Penn State System. The campus spans 854 acres in suburban Erie, Pennsylvania, positioning it minutes from Lake Erie and approximately 100 miles from Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Buffalo. It features more than fifty buildings, including the 160,000-square-foot Burke Center, the original century-old Glenhill Farmhouse, and the historic Federal House, which was recently renovated and expanded. The Erie Hall fitness, recreation, and wellness center, opened in 2023, marking a recent addition to the campus's facilities. The campus is known for being “attractive and clean,” “not so large that it is overwhelming but still offering most [of the] opportunities of a large school,” and having “plenty of parking.”

Knowledge Park

PSB houses a 200-acre Knowledge Park, which serves as a hub for research and development. This park facilitates collaboration between students, faculty, and industry partners, fostering innovation and practical application of academic knowledge.

Academics and Programs

Penn State Behrend offers undergraduate and graduate students the best of two worlds: The friendly, student-centered environment of a smaller college and the academic resources of a major research university. The college provides a range of academic programs, including 35 bachelor degrees, four master's degrees, four associate degrees, and a number of continuing education programs. Mechanical engineering, e-commerce, and management sciences and statistics are among the most popular majors.

The Black School of Business

The Black School of Business at Penn State Behrend College “provides the best value for a working student in the local area,” offering “an outstanding general MBA education, and student-work flexibility.” The Black School of Business is the only business school in the Erie area accredited by AACSB International, the premier accrediting agency for schools of business worldwide. Behrend enjoys “an outstanding reputation” in the region, making it an excellent choice for students looking to build their careers in and around Erie. The school’s business programs rank among the top 10% in the country-out of more than 1,700 universities nationwide-for value, or financial return (Georgetown University Center on Education and Workforce).

MBA Program Details

A general degree that aims to develop the critical-thinking skills necessary for a career in mid- and upper-level management, the Behrend MBA curriculum consists of forty-eight units, or thirteen courses. Of these, eighteen units form the foundational core courses, which are comprised of three introductory classes: Costs, Competition, and Market Performance; Demand, Operations, and Firm Performance; and Integrated Business Analysis. After completing these courses, students must complete twenty-one credits of required advanced courses and nine credits of elective course work. For those who have already taken business courses, the program can be streamlined through the omission of certain foundation courses. Depending on their previous academic preparation, fulltime students can usually complete the MBA curriculum in three semesters; part-time students usually require two to four years to complete the program.

Behrend works hard to keep its MBA program student-friendly with “small classes” and “accessible professors.” Most faculty members “have extensive real-world experience that greatly adds to their lessons. Additionally, many are locals and have experience at the major companies in the area and understand the general job situation of the area.” Students describe the curriculum as challenging, citing “tough courses” that “equate to well-educated students.”

Other Academic Strengths

Behrend's School of Science annually produces more graduates with American Chemical Society certification than other comparably sized institutions. Degree offerings in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences include one of the few creative writing programs in the country to offer the B.F.A.

Academic Calendar and Learning Options

The academic calendar follows a semester-based system. The college offers various non-traditional learning options, including online classes, online undergraduate degrees, summer sessions, and combined institution double degree programs. Additional learning options include ROTC Army, study abroad programs, an honors program, and teacher certification.

Read also: Comprehensive Guide to ECC

Admissions Information

Key Admissions Statistics

Penn State Erie-Behrend College has a Not for Profit institution type. The college is coed and level of Institution is 4 Year.

Application Deadlines and Requirements

The college has rolling admissions, which means applications are accepted any time throughout the year. The application fee is $65, with fee waivers available. Applications are accepted through the State-Specific Application and Coalition Application. Important deadlines include those for Early Action, where acceptance is not binding, but students receive admissions decisions earlier.

Admitted Student Profile

The average SAT composite score for admitted students is 1171.

Admissions Resources

Prospective students can access various admissions resources to guide them through the application process, including campus tours, information sessions, and online resources.

Affordability and Financial Aid

Tuition and Costs

Tuition rates vary depending on residency status. In-state tuition is $15,972, while out-of-state tuition is $26,958. Additional costs include $14,474 for room and board and $1200 for books and supplies.

Read also: SUNY Erie Community College

Financial Aid and Grants

The average net price is $25,123. A significant percentage of undergraduate students receive gift aid and grants. Total needs-based scholarships/grants amount to $21,325,712, while total non-need-based scholarships/grants total $3,724,705.

Student Loans

Many students borrow loans to finance their education. The average federal loans per year is $5,284, and the average other loans per year is $19,304.

Campus Life

Housing

More than 1,700 students live on campus in traditional-style residence halls, suite-style halls, or apartment buildings. On-campus living is required of freshman. Disability housing is available. All of the college's residential buildings are named for commanders or ships that took part in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. More than 60 percent of Behrend students commute from home or live off campus, including about 700 living in the housing adjacent to campus. Students who don't live on campus can make use of the Commuter Lounge in Smith Chapel between classes.

Clubs and Organizations

There are more than 140 clubs and organizations on campus, including academic clubs, fraternities and sororities, service organizations, and cultural societies. The MCC promotes a multi-cultural environment through a variety of events throughout the years. Moreover, there are weekly bands and comedians, which are brought to campus for entertainment.

Diversity and Inclusion

More than 140 international students from nearly forty countries attend Behrend. They join other Behrend students in participating in a dozen multicultural organizations on campus. The college is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment.

Student Media

The Behrend Beacon is the student newspaper. The college is also home to BVZ Radio ("The Voice Of Behrend"), an online streaming radio station. The station is managed by a student management team and all show programming is produced by students.

Athletics

Nicknamed the Behrend Lions, athletic teams at Penn State Behrend compete in 11 varsity sports as a member of the NCAA Division III, Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) and Eastern College Athletic Conference. The Behrend Lions have captured the AMCC Presidents' Cup, awarded annually to the member school with the strongest overall program, eighteen of the nineteen times it has been presented. Students also participate in five intercollegiate club teams: cheerleading, ice hockey, and men's and women's lacrosse, and rugby. Behrend also has a competitive esports team.

Campus Safety

Campus safety is a priority at Penn State Behrend. Security measures include 24-HR security patrol, campus emergency phones, and 24-HR escort safety rides.

Outcomes

Post-Graduation Statistics

A high percentage of Penn State Behrend students are currently employed in professional positions and are pursuing an MBA with the intention of improving their career opportunities at their current companies. In fact, a considerable number of Penn State Behrend students receive tuition assistance from their employers.

Career Development

For those students seeking a new career, the Penn State Behrend Academic Advising and Career Development Center (CDC) serves both the undergraduate and graduate population at the college, including students in the MBA program. The CDC hosts career fairs, on-campus recruiting and interview events, seminars, and workshops. A growing number of organizations participate in Penn State Behrend career fairs each year.

tags: #erie #penn #state #university #information