Staten Island vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley

Comparable Facts

Compare College of Staten Island CUNY in Staten Island, NY with Penn State Lehigh Valley in Center Valley, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

College of Staten Island CUNY is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (11,033 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of Staten Island CUNY is located in Staten Island, NY (Large City setting); Penn State Lehigh Valley is in Center Valley, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• College of Staten Island CUNY is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Lehigh Valley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Staten Island CUNY 17:1; Penn State Lehigh Valley 14:1.

Staten Island vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Staten Island 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 College of Staten Island CUNY than Penn State Lehigh Valley ($6,525 vs. $19,066).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Lehigh Valley are 27.8% lower than at College of Staten Island CUNY ($15,274 vs. $21,155).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley is 103% more expensive for in-state tuition than Staten Island (about $7,718 more per year; $15,208.00 vs. $7,490.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 64.5% higher at Penn State Lehigh Valley than at College of Staten Island CUNY (about $9,952 more per year; $25,392.00 vs. $15,440.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at College of Staten Island CUNY as at Penn State Lehigh Valley (80% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students is 6.3% larger than aid received by College of Staten Island CUNY students ($9,065 vs. $8,526).

Staten Island vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Staten Island 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 Staten Island.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Lehigh Valley (1230) is 160 points higher than at Staten Island (1070).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: College of Staten Island CUNY 890/1250; Penn State Lehigh Valley 1130/1320.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Staten Island - Test optional; Penn State Lehigh Valley - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Lehigh Valley students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Staten Island (3.0).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than Staten Island (92.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17% at Staten Island vs. 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

Staten Island vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Staten Island 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).

• College of Staten Island CUNY's six-year graduation rate (48%) is higher than Penn State Lehigh Valley's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Lehigh Valley earn a median of about $10,200 more per year than Staten Island graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $45,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of Staten Island CUNY graduates have a $12,831 lower median loan debt than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($13,987 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Staten Island graduates have an estimated $133 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($144 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Staten Island students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 49%)

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.