I interviewed at both and was accepted to both, and am choosing my state school over them. So here is my opinion.
They are both cheap. The main differences would be more learning pathway choices at Erie (lecture only, problem based learning (PBL), and independent study) and only PBL at Bradenton; the location - PA vs. FL. Both are just buildings without the college environment.
If you feel that you are a good fit for PBL - small group discussions and case studies, meet three days a week for two hours but the rest of your time is spent studying - and you like hot, sunny, humid weather and white sand beaches - then Bradenton may be for you. The cost of living in Bradenton, I believe, is not as cheap as Erie, though it may be relatively cheap depending on where you are from. They do not have a fancy wellness center, but many of the apartment complexes have gyms and there is a gym down the street that many students go to. The area the school is in is pretty empty, lots of trees. But, in my opinion, it was nice. Bradenton also has prosected cadavers (already dissected) so you spend your time studying them instead of "picking off the fat" in a normal dissection. Everyone had different interviews here and the interviewers had the choice to read or not read your file before your interview.
If you like PBL, or lecture, or independent study, you should try Erie. They also have a campus (still part of LECOM Erie) at Seton Hill that is PBL only. There are more PBL seats at Seton Hill than at the Erie campus, so if you want PBL, you might get sent to Seton Hill. They only have a certain amount of spots for each learning pathway. Erie is more dense than Bradenton (not as spread out) but it is cold and they get the lake effect. They get up to two feet of snow. Cost of living is cheap and LECOM is well-respected in Erie. They also have a brand new wellness center that has everything - fitness classes, cardio machines, indoor track, heated pools and lap pools, fully equipped locker rooms, gym, racquetball, etc, etc. PBL does not do dissections, I believe the remaining pathways do. (Correct me if I'm wrong, I can't remember...) LECOM Erie's interview was read off a paper and everyone got the same questions. They do not tell you what time you are interviewing nor who your interviewers are, and they also do not tell you if it is a individual or group interview.
Both schools don't allow food/drink and require professional attire. If you are at Erie, they have assigned seats in class. You share with pharmacy students at both schools.
If I had to choose, I would've gone with Bradenton simply because I loved PBL and I love warm weather and beaches.
Good luck deciding.
