Colleges in Erie, Pennsylvania
7 colleges and universities — federal Scorecard data.
There are 7 colleges and universities in Erie, Pennsylvania (4 Private nonprofit, 2 Private for-profit, 1 Public). The figures below are pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — the same federal dataset colleges are required to report to.
Across all 7 institutions, the median net price after grants and scholarships works out to about $22,553 per year, the median 6-year graduation rate is 63.7%, schools that report admissions data accept a median 89% of applicants.
The median net price in Erie runs about $2,485 higher than the Pennsylvania statewide median of $20,069.
Whether you're comparing in-state public tuition, looking for a private nonprofit with strong outcomes, or trying to find the right program in Erie, the table below lets you sort every institution side-by-side on cost, admissions, graduation rate, and size.
Median net price
$22,553
After aid
Median grad rate
63.7%
6-year
Median admission rate
89%
Median enrollment
1,263
Undergrad
All colleges in Erie
Sorted by enrollment.
| School | State | Type | Net price | Grad rate | Admission | Size | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College Erie, PA | PA | Public, 4-year | $24,558 | 43.6% | 97% | 3,240 | Complete | |
| Gannon University Erie, PA | PA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $22,553 | 66.4% | 74% | 2,365 | Complete | |
| Mercyhurst University Erie, PA | PA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $19,444 | 60.2% | 81% | 2,191 | Complete | |
| Great Lakes Institute of Technology Erie, PA | PA | Private for-profit, 2-year | $17,540 | 63.7% | Not available | 335 | Partial | |
| Erie Institute of Technology Inc Erie, PA | PA | Private for-profit, 2-year | $30,164 | 66.7% | Not available | 221 | Partial | |
| Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Erie, PA | PA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | 4 | Missing | |
| UPMC Jameson School of Nursing - UPMC Hamot Erie, PA | PA | Private nonprofit, 2-year | Not available | Not available | 100% | Not available | Partial |
By institution type
Private nonprofit (4)
Private nonprofit colleges in Erie are mission-driven institutions — often religiously affiliated or research-focused — that reinvest tuition into academics and aid rather than distributing profit.
- Gannon UniversityNet price: $22,553Grad: 66.4%
- Mercyhurst UniversityNet price: $19,444Grad: 60.2%
- Lake Erie College of Osteopathic MedicineNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- UPMC Jameson School of Nursing - UPMC HamotNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
Private for-profit (2)
Private for-profit colleges in Erie operate as businesses, generally focused on career-oriented and online programs with rolling admissions.
- Great Lakes Institute of TechnologyNet price: $17,540Grad: 63.7%
- Erie Institute of Technology IncNet price: $30,164Grad: 66.7%
Public (1)
Public colleges in Erie are state- or locally-funded institutions that typically offer lower in-state tuition and serve a broad mix of residents and commuters.
- Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend CollegeNet price: $24,558Grad: 43.6%
Top programs in Erie
Most-completed programs across Erie colleges, weighted by enrollment.
- Business22.1% of degrees
- Health professions19.4% of degrees
- Engineering11.2% of degrees
- Biological sciences5.9% of degrees
- Homeland security & law enforcement5.0% of degrees
- Engineering tech4.6% of degrees
- Computer science4.2% of degrees
- Psychology3.1% of degrees
Frequently asked questions about colleges in Erie
Q.How many colleges are in Erie, Pennsylvania?
There are 7 colleges and universities in Erie, Pennsylvania that report to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — 4 Private nonprofit, 2 Private for-profit, 1 Public.
Q.What is the largest college in Erie?
By undergraduate enrollment, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College is the largest institution in Erie with roughly 3,240 undergraduates.
Q.What is the cheapest college in Erie?
Based on average net price after aid, Great Lakes Institute of Technology is the most affordable institution in Erie at $17,540 per year.
Q.Which Erie college has the highest graduation rate?
Erie Institute of Technology Inc reports the highest 6-year graduation rate among Erie institutions at 66.7%.
Q.What is the average tuition in Erie?
The median net price across all 7 colleges in Erie is $22,553 per year after grants and scholarships.
Q.What are the most popular college majors in Erie?
Across Erie colleges, the most-completed programs by share of degrees awarded are Business, Health professions, Engineering.
Q.Are there community colleges in Erie?
Yes — Erie includes 1 public institutions, many of which offer 2-year associate degrees and transfer pathways to 4-year programs.
Other cities in Pennsylvania
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS. Medians are computed across institutions in Erie that report each metric. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with each institution.