Bard College vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley

Comparable Facts

Compare Bard College in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY with Penn State Lehigh Valley in Center Valley, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bard College is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (2,911 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bard College is located in Annandale-On-Hudson, NY (Town Fringe setting); Penn State Lehigh Valley is in Center Valley, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Bard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Lehigh Valley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bard College 9:1; Penn State Lehigh Valley 14:1.

Bard College vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bard College or Penn State Lehigh Valley? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Lehigh Valley than Bard College ($19,066 vs. $29,320).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Lehigh Valley are 19% lower than at Bard College ($15,274 vs. $18,852).
• Bard College is 336.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $51,228 more per year; $66,436.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 161.6% higher at Bard College than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $41,044 more per year; $66,436.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Lehigh Valley than at Bard College (80% vs. 74%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College students is 509.3% larger than aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students ($55,235 vs. $9,065).

Bard College vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bard College or Penn State Lehigh Valley? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Penn State Lehigh Valley and Bard College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bard College (1360) is 130 points higher than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (1230).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bard College 1270/1450; Penn State Lehigh Valley 1130/1320.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bard College 28/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bard College - Test optional; Penn State Lehigh Valley - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Bard College Jan 1, 2027.
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than Bard College (52.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.8% at Bard College vs. 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

Bard College vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bard College and Penn State Lehigh Valley? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Bard College's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than Penn State Lehigh Valley's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Lehigh Valley earn a median of about $13,700 more per year than Bard College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $41,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bard College graduates have a $624 lower median loan debt than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($26,194 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Bard College graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($270 vs. $277).
• More Bard College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Lehigh Valley students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.