Clark University vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley

Should I go to Clark University or Penn State Lehigh Valley? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Clark University or Penn State Lehigh Valley is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
Clark University vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley comparison
Clark University Penn State Lehigh Valley College 3 College 4
Clark University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Clark University Penn State Lehigh Valley
Location Worcester, MA Center Valley, PA
Setting Midsize City Large Suburban
Enrollment 4,124 954
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #153
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website clarku.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Clark University Penn State Lehigh Valley
Tuition (In State) $54,760 $14,624
Tuition (Out of State) $54,760 $24,562
Room & Board $11,690 $13,448
Avg Net Price $32,767 $19,070
Avg Grant Aid $31,916 $8,108
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 71%

Admission

Clark University Penn State Lehigh Valley
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 10,730 1,848
Admitted 4,471 1,741
Acceptance Rate 41.7% 94.2%
Enrolled % 14.1% 16.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.69 3.42
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very High Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 30/33 20/28
SAT Range 1240/1400 1140/1315
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Clark University Penn State Lehigh Valley
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Psychology (17%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Business (46%)
  • Education (25%)
  • Psychology (18%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (4%)
  • Foreign Languages (3%)

Outcomes

Clark University Penn State Lehigh Valley
Graduation Rate 80% 47%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,100 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $279 $277

Diversity

Clark University Penn State Lehigh Valley
% Men 23% 1%
% Women 20% 4%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 57% 64%
% Black 4% 6%
% Hispanic 7% 16%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 15% 0%
% Unknown Race 8% 1%

Students

Clark University Penn State Lehigh Valley
% In-State 36% 93%
% Out-of-State 60% 6%

Campus

Clark University Penn State Lehigh Valley
Campus Housing Yes No
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Clark University is larger than than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (4,124 students vs. 954 students)

Clark University vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clark University or Penn State Lehigh Valley?

  • Clark University is 274.5% more expensive to attend than Penn State Lehigh Valley for in-state tuition ($54,760.00 vs. $14,624.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 122.9% higher at Clark University than Penn State Lehigh Valley ($54,760.00 vs. $24,562.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Lehigh Valley than Clark University ($19,070 vs. $32,767)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clark University are 15% lower than costs at Penn State Lehigh Valley ($11,690 vs. $13,448)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Clark University than Penn State Lehigh Valley (97% vs. 71%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clark University students is 293.6% larger than aid received Penn State Lehigh Valley ($31,916 vs. $8,108)

Clark University vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Clark University or Penn State Lehigh Valley? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State Lehigh Valley or Clark University .

  • Accepted freshman Clark University students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Penn State Lehigh Valley (3.42)
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (94.2%) than Clark University (41.7%)

Clark University vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Clark University or Penn State Lehigh Valley? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Penn State Lehigh Valley and Clark University.

  • The graduation rate at Clark University is higher than Penn State Lehigh Valley (80% vs. 47%)
  • Graduates from Penn State Lehigh Valley earn on average $5,200 more per year than Clark University graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $50,100)
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley students graduate with a $182 lower median federal student loan debt than Clark University graduates. ($26,818 vs. $27,000)
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Clark University graduates. ($277 vs. $279)
  • More Clark University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Lehigh Valley students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/