Bentley vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley

Comparable Facts

Compare Bentley University in Waltham, MA with Penn State Lehigh Valley in Center Valley, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bentley University is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (5,333 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bentley University is located in Waltham, MA (Small City setting); Penn State Lehigh Valley is in Center Valley, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Bentley University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Lehigh Valley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bentley University 12:1; Penn State Lehigh Valley 14:1.

Bentley vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bentley 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 Bentley ($19,066 vs. $45,802).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Lehigh Valley are 24.2% lower than at Bentley University ($15,274 vs. $20,140).
• Bentley University is 301.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $45,792 more per year; $61,000.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 140.2% higher at Bentley than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $35,608 more per year; $61,000.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bentley University than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (88% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bentley University students is 271.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students ($33,673 vs. $9,065).

Bentley vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bentley 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 Bentley.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bentley University (1360) is 130 points higher than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (1230).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bentley University 1280/1430; Penn State Lehigh Valley 1130/1320.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bentley University 28/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bentley - Test optional; Penn State Lehigh Valley - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Bentley Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Bentley students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Penn State Lehigh Valley (3.42).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than Bentley (45.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.3% at Bentley vs. 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

Bentley vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bentley 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).

• Bentley University's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than Penn State Lehigh Valley's (47%).
• Graduates from Bentley University earn a median of about $31,900 more per year than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates about ten years after starting college ($87,200 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bentley University graduates have a $318 lower median loan debt than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($26,500 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Bentley graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($274 vs. $277).
• More Bentley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Lehigh Valley students, three years after graduation. (92% 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.