Cedar Crest College vs. Penn State Brandywine

Comparable Facts

Compare Cedar Crest College in Allentown, PA with Penn State Brandywine in Media, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cedar Crest College is larger than Penn State Brandywine based on total student enrollment (1,290 students vs. 1,236 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cedar Crest College is located in Allentown, PA (Midsize City setting); Penn State Brandywine is in Media, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Cedar Crest College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Brandywine is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cedar Crest College 9:1; Penn State Brandywine 15:1.

Cedar Crest College vs. Penn State Brandywine Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cedar Crest College or Penn State Brandywine? 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 Brandywine than Cedar Crest College ($22,710 vs. $23,691).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cedar Crest College are 7.4% lower than at Penn State Brandywine ($13,406 vs. $14,474).
• Cedar Crest College is 204.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Brandywine (about $31,106 more per year; $46,314.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 82.4% higher at Cedar Crest College than at Penn State Brandywine (about $20,922 more per year; $46,314.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cedar Crest College than at Penn State Brandywine (99% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cedar Crest College students is 265.7% larger than aid received by Penn State Brandywine students ($33,323 vs. $9,113).

Cedar Crest College vs. Penn State Brandywine Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cedar Crest College or Penn State Brandywine? 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 Brandywine and Cedar Crest College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Brandywine (1200) is 80 points higher than at Cedar Crest College (1120).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cedar Crest College 1000/1230; Penn State Brandywine 1080/1310.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cedar Crest College - Test-free; Penn State Brandywine - Test optional.
• Penn State Brandywine has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Cedar Crest College (84.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.5% at Cedar Crest College vs. 16.8% at Penn State Brandywine.

Cedar Crest College vs. Penn State Brandywine Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cedar Crest College and Penn State Brandywine? 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).

• Cedar Crest College's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than Penn State Brandywine's (37%).
• Graduates from Penn State Brandywine earn a median of about $7,500 more per year than Cedar Crest College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $47,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Brandywine graduates have a $932 lower median loan debt than Cedar Crest College graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,750).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Brandywine graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cedar Crest College graduates ($277 vs. $286).
• More Penn State Brandywine graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cedar Crest College students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 59%)

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.