Carnegie Mellon vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley

Comparable Facts

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

Carnegie Mellon University is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (15,888 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Carnegie Mellon University is located in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting); Penn State Lehigh Valley is in Center Valley, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Carnegie Mellon 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: Carnegie Mellon University 5:1; Penn State Lehigh Valley 14:1.

Carnegie Mellon vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Carnegie Mellon 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 Carnegie Mellon ($19,066 vs. $35,552).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Lehigh Valley are 15.9% lower than at Carnegie Mellon University ($15,274 vs. $18,166).
• Carnegie Mellon University is 335.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $51,038 more per year; $66,246.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 160.9% higher at Carnegie Mellon than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $40,854 more per year; $66,246.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Lehigh Valley than at Carnegie Mellon University (80% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Carnegie Mellon University students is 430.7% larger than aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students ($48,107 vs. $9,065).

Carnegie Mellon vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Carnegie Mellon 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 Carnegie Mellon.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Carnegie Mellon University (1540) is 310 points higher than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (1230).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Carnegie Mellon University 1500/1570; Penn State Lehigh Valley 1130/1320.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Carnegie Mellon University 34/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Carnegie Mellon - Test optional; Penn State Lehigh Valley - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Carnegie Mellon students have a 0.47 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Penn State Lehigh Valley (3.42).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than Carnegie Mellon (11.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.7% at Carnegie Mellon vs. 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

Carnegie Mellon vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Carnegie Mellon 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).

• Carnegie Mellon University's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Penn State Lehigh Valley's (47%).
• Graduates from Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of about $47,400 more per year than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates about ten years after starting college ($102,700 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Carnegie Mellon University graduates have a $568 lower median loan debt than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($26,250 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Carnegie Mellon graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($271 vs. $277).
• More Carnegie Mellon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Lehigh Valley students, three years after graduation. (91% 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.