Cedar Crest College vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley

Comparable Facts

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

Cedar Crest College is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (1,290 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cedar Crest College is located in Allentown, PA (Midsize City setting); Penn State Lehigh Valley is in Center Valley, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Cedar Crest 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: Cedar Crest College 9:1; Penn State Lehigh Valley 14:1.

Cedar Crest College vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cedar Crest 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 Cedar Crest College ($19,066 vs. $23,691).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cedar Crest College are 12.2% lower than at Penn State Lehigh Valley ($13,406 vs. $15,274).
• Cedar Crest College is 204.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Lehigh Valley (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 Lehigh Valley (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 Lehigh Valley (99% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cedar Crest College students is 267.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students ($33,323 vs. $9,065).

Cedar Crest College vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cedar Crest 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 Cedar Crest College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Lehigh Valley (1230) is 110 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 Lehigh Valley 1130/1320.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cedar Crest College - Test-free; Penn State Lehigh Valley - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Cedar Crest College students have the same average high school GPA (3.42) as students at Penn State Lehigh Valley (3.42).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than Cedar Crest College (84.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.5% at Cedar Crest College vs. 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

Cedar Crest College vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cedar Crest 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).

• Cedar Crest College's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than Penn State Lehigh Valley's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Lehigh Valley 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 Lehigh Valley graduates have a $932 lower median loan debt than Cedar Crest College graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,750).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cedar Crest College graduates ($277 vs. $286).
• More Penn State Lehigh Valley 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.