Queens College vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley

Comparable Facts

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

CUNY Queens College is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (15,965 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• CUNY Queens College is located in Queens, NY (Large City setting); Penn State Lehigh Valley is in Center Valley, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• CUNY Queens College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Lehigh Valley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY Queens College 13:1; Penn State Lehigh Valley 14:1.

Queens College vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Queens 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 CUNY Queens College than Penn State Lehigh Valley ($5,728 vs. $19,066).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Lehigh Valley are 10.8% lower than at CUNY Queens College ($15,274 vs. $17,132).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley is 101.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Queens College (about $7,670 more per year; $15,208.00 vs. $7,538.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 63.9% higher at Penn State Lehigh Valley than at CUNY Queens College (about $9,904 more per year; $25,392.00 vs. $15,488.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Queens College than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (81% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students is 0.1% larger than aid received by CUNY Queens College students ($9,065 vs. $9,057).

Queens College vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Queens 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 Queens College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Lehigh Valley (1230) is 80 points higher than at Queens College (1150).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: CUNY Queens College 1010/1290; Penn State Lehigh Valley 1130/1320.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Queens College - 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 Queens College (3.0).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than Queens College (64.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at Queens College vs. 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

Queens College vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Queens 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).

• CUNY Queens College's six-year graduation rate (53%) is higher than Penn State Lehigh Valley's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Lehigh Valley earn a median of about $4,500 more per year than Queens College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $50,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Queens College graduates have a $15,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($11,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Queens College graduates have an estimated $164 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($113 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Queens College students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 56%)

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.