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Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College: Penn State Behrend entrance, June 2024
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College · Catholic life on campus

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College

  • LocationErie, PA
  • Type and sizePublic · 4-year · 3,323 students
Official website

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College is not a Catholic college. This rating measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes.

Penn State Behrend's Catholic Campus Ministry (CCM) is listed on the college's own pages, with its worship in the Larry and Kathryn Smith Chapel, a multi-faith chapel on campus. The chapel lists one Catholic Mass each week, on Sundays at 8:00 PM.

Mass, confession, and adoration

Confirm with the parish

Mass 1

  • Sunday8:00 PMLarry and Kathryn Smith Chapel, 4701 College Drive, Erie

Times come only from official parish, chaplaincy, or school pages, and can change with the season. Last verified Oct. 14, 2026.

Sources for these times (1)
  1. Larry and Kathryn Smith Chapel | Penn State Behrendbehrend.psu.edu/student-life/smith-chapel · verified Oct. 14, 2026
    “Worship Services Catholic Mass: Sundays, 8:00 p.m.”
    The Smith Chapel's worship services list one Catholic Mass, on Sundays at 8:00 p.m.

Plan a campus visit Mass times for your dates, questions to ask, and a calendar button.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches1 mi2 mi3 miSaint James Roman Catholic Church: 2.2 mi1The Church of Saint Mark the Evangelist: 2.9 mi2Catholic Campus Ministry at the Larry and Kathryn Smith Chapel: 0.2 miPennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College (campus)N1 mi
CampusCatholic centerCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Saint James Roman Catholic Church — 2.2 mi · 2635 Buffalo Road, Erie
  2. The Church of Saint Mark the Evangelist — 2.9 mi · 695 Smithson Avenue, Erie

Within 3 miles, as mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The map may be incomplete. Confirm with the parish or diocese.

Catholic life scorecard

Each line is one thing we looked for. A check means yes, a half means partly, a dash means no. “Not enough information” means official sources did not say.

DCatholic life on campus: Limited (grade D): 40 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.

Catholic life on campus

51 of 100 points on what we could document.

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic campus ministry serving this campus (Catholic center, campus ministry, or chaplaincy)Yes
    Sources (1)
    1. Campus Ministry | Penn State Behrendbehrend.psu.edu/student-life/smith-chapel/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “Catholic Campus Ministry (CCM)”
      Penn State Behrend's campus ministry includes the Catholic Campus Ministry (CCM).
      “Behrend Nittany Catholic Club”
      The campus ministry page lists the Behrend Nittany Catholic Club among its religious and spiritual student organizations.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Dedicated Catholic center or chapel on or next to campusNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Priest chaplain assigned to campus ministryPart-time or shared priest (A Catholic Mass is listed.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Larry and Kathryn Smith Chapel | Penn State Behrendbehrend.psu.edu/student-life/smith-chapel · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “Worship Services Catholic Mass: Sundays, 8:00 p.m.”
      The Smith Chapel's worship services list one Catholic Mass, on Sundays at 8:00 p.m.
  • No: the school does not offer this, so it earns no points.
    Weekday Mass at the campus ministryNone (The chapel's Worship Services list shows only the Sunday Mass.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Larry and Kathryn Smith Chapel | Penn State Behrendbehrend.psu.edu/student-life/smith-chapel · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “Worship Services Catholic Mass: Sundays, 8:00 p.m.”
      The Smith Chapel's worship services list one Catholic Mass, on Sundays at 8:00 p.m.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Sunday Mass at the campus ministry or a campus chapelOne weekend Mass (One Sunday Mass at 8:00 PM in the Smith Chapel.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Larry and Kathryn Smith Chapel | Penn State Behrendbehrend.psu.edu/student-life/smith-chapel · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “Worship Services Catholic Mass: Sundays, 8:00 p.m.”
      The Smith Chapel's worship services list one Catholic Mass, on Sundays at 8:00 p.m.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Scheduled confession at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Catholic student groups and missionary outreach (e.g., FOCUS, Saint Paul's Outreach, Knights of Columbus, Bible studies)One (Behrend Nittany Catholic Club, listed on the campus ministry page and on Penn State's student directory. The other religious groups listed are not Catholic.)
    Sources (2)
    1. Campus Ministry | Penn State Behrendbehrend.psu.edu/student-life/smith-chapel/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “Behrend Nittany Catholic Club”
      The campus ministry page lists the Behrend Nittany Catholic Club among its religious and spiritual student organizations.
    2. Behrend Catholic - Penn State Discoverdiscoverwest.psu.edu/organization/the-nittany-catholic · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “A Catholic-based organization that seeks to bring students closer together and to Jesus Christ through learning, prayer, fellowship, service, and group activities.”
      Behrend Catholic is a Catholic-based student organization at Penn State Behrend.
      “4701 College Dr Erie, PA 16563”
      The student organization's listed address is 4701 College Drive, Erie, PA 16563.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Formation programs (retreats, OCIA/RCIA, service, small groups)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Catholic church within walking distance (computed from OpenStreetMap)Within 3 milesComputed from OpenStreetMap church locations.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Published weekly schedule of Mass, confession, and adoration1 to 5 times a week (1 weekly times documented: 1 Mass, 0 confession, 0 adoration.)Computed from the verified Mass, confession, and adoration times listed on this page (each day a time is offered counts once).

Grades come from the documented indicators under the published rubric. “Not enough information” does not mean the school lacks it.

Strengths

  • The Catholic Campus Ministry is listed on the college's own pages, with a Catholic student club and a Sunday Mass on campus.
    Sources (2)
    1. Campus Ministry | Penn State Behrendbehrend.psu.edu/student-life/smith-chapel/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “Catholic Campus Ministry (CCM)”
      Penn State Behrend's campus ministry includes the Catholic Campus Ministry (CCM).
      “Behrend Nittany Catholic Club”
      The campus ministry page lists the Behrend Nittany Catholic Club among its religious and spiritual student organizations.
    2. Larry and Kathryn Smith Chapel | Penn State Behrendbehrend.psu.edu/student-life/smith-chapel · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “Worship Services Catholic Mass: Sundays, 8:00 p.m.”
      The Smith Chapel's worship services list one Catholic Mass, on Sundays at 8:00 p.m.

Concerns

None recorded.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

The Catholic center

Catholic Campus Ministry at the Larry and Kathryn Smith Chapel

  • Address: 4701 College Drive, Erie, PA 16563
  • Location: On campus
  • Facilities: worship area, dedication chapel for prayer, conference room, living room with kitchen

View on map ↗

Source: behrend.psu.edu, verified Oct. 14, 2026, behrend.psu.edu, verified Oct. 14, 2026, behrend.psu.edu, verified Oct. 14, 2026, discoverwest.psu.edu, verified Oct. 14, 2026

Catholic clubs and student life

2 groups and regular activities · 2 on campus, 0 off campus

Clubs and groups 1

Liturgy and prayer 1

  • Sunday Catholic Mass in the Smith ChapelOn campus
    Sundays, 8:00 PM
    Catholic Mass listed among the chapel's worship services.
    behrend.psu.edu

Everything listed is published by the school, its campus ministry, or the parish. Ask the campus minister what’s happening this semester.

Catholic campus ministry

Sources (4)
  1. Campus Ministry | Penn State Behrendbehrend.psu.edu/student-life/smith-chapel/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 14, 2026
    “Catholic Campus Ministry (CCM)”
    Penn State Behrend's campus ministry includes the Catholic Campus Ministry (CCM).
    “Catholic Campus Ministry (CCM)”
    Penn State Behrend's campus ministry includes the Catholic Campus Ministry (CCM).
  2. Larry and Kathryn Smith Chapel | Penn State Behrendbehrend.psu.edu/student-life/smith-chapel · verified Oct. 14, 2026
    “Worship Services Catholic Mass: Sundays, 8:00 p.m.”
    The Smith Chapel's worship services list one Catholic Mass, on Sundays at 8:00 p.m.
  3. Contact Smith Chapel | Penn State Behrendbehrend.psu.edu/student-life/smith-chapel/contact-smith-chapel · verified Oct. 14, 2026
    “located at 4701 College Drive in Erie, PA”
    The Smith Chapel is located at 4701 College Drive in Erie, Pennsylvania.
  4. Behrend Catholic - Penn State Discoverdiscoverwest.psu.edu/organization/the-nittany-catholic · verified Oct. 14, 2026
    “4701 College Dr Erie, PA 16563”
    The student organization's listed address is 4701 College Drive, Erie, PA 16563.

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Academic Excellence

CAcademic Excellence: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
60 of 100
From federal data, on fixed published scales.

Each measure counts for the share shown.

  • Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.44%
  • First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.83%
  • Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,228 · ACT 28
  • Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.12 to 1
  • Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$4,725

Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.

Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))

Campus facts

SportsNCAA Division III · Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference
SettingSuburb
ROTCArmy
Study abroadOffered
Students per faculty member12 to 1

Federal data (IPEDS). None of this changes the faith grades.

Cost and value

Federal data, shown separately. Cost, debt, and earnings are never part of any grade.

Undergraduate students
Fall enrollment (IPEDS)
3,226
Total students3,323
Average net price (per year)
After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid
$24,558
Cost of attendance (per year)$34,081
Median federal debt at graduation$25,000
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
44%
First-year retention83%
Median earnings 10 years after entry$63,435
Admission rate97%
Students receiving Pell grants29%
Admitted students’ middle range:SAT 1120–1310ACT 25–31
Admission test scores (middle 50% of admitted students who submitted scores)
Average SAT1228
SAT reading & writing560–650
SAT math560–660
ACT composite25–31
Test policyConsidered but not required

Value index: 43 / 100 (how it’s computed)

Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.

Local Church

Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie

The Most Reverend Lawrence T. Persico, Bishop of Erie

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

Source: eriercd.org, eriercd.org, eriercd.org, verified Oct. 7, 2026.

Diocese determined from the county using NCES Catholic school records. Confirm with the diocese.

About this school’s data

Questions families ask

Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College a Catholic college?
No. Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College is not a Catholic college. Catholic School Compass rates the Catholic life on its campus instead. Catholic students are served by Catholic Campus Ministry (CCM).
What is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College’s Catholic Life Score?
53 out of 100 (grade D). It measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes, together with academics.
Where is Mass celebrated at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College?
Mass is listed at Larry and Kathryn Smith Chapel, 4701 College Drive and Erie. Days and times are on this page; please confirm with the parish or campus ministry before you go.

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