Career Training Path › Pennsylvania › Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks
Reading, Pennsylvania · Public university · Training programs available:
Address: Tulpehocken Road, Reading, PA 19610 · Phone: (610) 396-6000 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Sanction on record, since lifted — Aug 2024 · Warning or Equivalent-Factors Affecting Academic Quality · American Occupational Therapy Association; Apr 2026 · Accreditation Reaffirmed: Warning Removed.
Penn State Berks is a public trade and career school in Reading, Pennsylvania, offering medical assistant programs, accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, graduates of Penn State Berks carried a median debt of $25,000 and earned a median of $63,435 ten years after entry; a campus-specific completion rate is not reported.
Annual cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Penn State Berks; federal financial aid such as FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used, and about 28.8% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical assistants | $36,810 | $43,920 | $46,490 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Pennsylvania (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 22 | $38,928 | $37,671 | $14,000 |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Penn State Berks is a public university campus in Reading, Pennsylvania, operating under Penn State's Middle States Commission on Higher Education accreditation, with programs also recognized by the American Occupational Therapy Association's accreditation council. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used by eligible students here. Among its trade-related offerings, the campus is best known in federal data for its medical assistant programs, which produced 22 completers.
Federal completion-rate data for this specific campus is not reported, though the statewide average completion rate for comparable programs is 66.2%, and the comparison between this campus and that average is not reported for this campus in federal data. Graduates who took out loans carried a median debt of $25,000. Ten years after entry, former students had median earnings of $63,435. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 28.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants, pointing to a mix of income backgrounds among the roughly 1,872 undergraduates enrolled overall.
This campus sits in a large suburb setting and, based on its listed medical assistant program, may suit students seeking a focused credential rather than a broad degree; whether it fits adult career-changers specifically is not reported for this campus in federal data. Prospective students should verify current accreditation status and outcomes directly through Penn State Berks, the Middle States Commission, or the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Federal data lists medical assistant programs as the top trade program at Penn State Berks, with 22 completers recorded.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes. The campus is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and its relevant program is recognized by the American Occupational Therapy Association's accreditation council.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this campus participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used by eligible students.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
A campus-specific completion rate is not reported in federal data. The state average completion rate for comparable programs is 66.2%, but a direct comparison for this campus is not reported.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carried a median debt of $25,000, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings ten years after entry were $63,435, per the College Scorecard.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Penn State Berks is a public institution, which typically means it receives state funding and is subject to public accountability standards.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program length is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school to confirm program duration.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can check the Middle States Commission on Higher Education directly or review the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard at the provided link.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
This isn't reported for this campus in federal data; the medical assistant program's short, focused nature may be relevant, but fit should be confirmed with the school.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Penn State Berks at (610) 396-6000 or visit https://berks.psu.edu/ for application details.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
This comparison is not reported in federal data; use the College Scorecard link to compare similar programs at nearby institutions.
Other trade and career schools in Reading, PA
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- Berks County Intermediate UnitReading, PA
See all trade and career schools in Pennsylvania or search by ZIP code.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.