Duquesne University vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley

Should I go to Duquesne University or Penn State Lehigh Valley? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Duquesne 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.

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Duquesne University vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley comparison
Duquesne University Penn State Lehigh Valley College 3 College 4
Duquesne University
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Overview

Duquesne University Penn State Lehigh Valley
Location Pittsburgh, PA Center Valley, PA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 8,137 954
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #191
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website duq.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Duquesne University Penn State Lehigh Valley
Tuition (In State) $47,146 $14,624
Tuition (Out of State) $47,146 $24,562
Room & Board $15,620 $13,448
Avg Net Price $35,125 $19,070
Avg Grant Aid $27,980 $8,108
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 71%

Admission

Duquesne University Penn State Lehigh Valley
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 14,112 1,848
Admitted 11,128 1,741
Acceptance Rate 78.9% 94.2%
Enrolled % 13.3% 16.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.8 3.42
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 26/31 20/28
SAT Range 1160/1350 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 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Duquesne University Penn State Lehigh Valley
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (31%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Business (46%)
  • Education (25%)
  • Psychology (18%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (4%)
  • Foreign Languages (3%)

Outcomes

Duquesne University Penn State Lehigh Valley
Graduation Rate 73% 47%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $65,100 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $279 $277

Diversity

Duquesne University Penn State Lehigh Valley
% Men 13% 1%
% Women 23% 4%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 81% 64%
% Black 5% 6%
% Hispanic 3% 16%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 4% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Duquesne University Penn State Lehigh Valley
% In-State 70% 93%
% Out-of-State 27% 6%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Duquesne University is larger than than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (8,137 students vs. 954 students)

Duquesne University vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Cost Comparison

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

  • Duquesne University is 222.4% more expensive to attend than Penn State Lehigh Valley for in-state tuition ($47,146.00 vs. $14,624.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 91.9% higher at Duquesne University than Penn State Lehigh Valley ($47,146.00 vs. $24,562.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Lehigh Valley than Duquesne University ($19,070 vs. $35,125)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Lehigh Valley are 16.2% lower than costs at Duquesne University ($13,448 vs. $15,620)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Duquesne University than Penn State Lehigh Valley (100% vs. 71%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Duquesne University students is 245.1% larger than aid received Penn State Lehigh Valley ($27,980 vs. $8,108)

Duquesne University vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Duquesne 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 Duquesne University .

  • The average SAT score at Duquesne University (1138) is 119 points higher than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (1019)
  • Incoming Duquesne University students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Penn State Lehigh Valley (23)
  • Accepted freshman Duquesne University students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Penn State Lehigh Valley (3.42)
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (94.2%) than Duquesne University (78.9%)

Duquesne University vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Duquesne 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 Duquesne University.

  • The graduation rate at Duquesne University is higher than Penn State Lehigh Valley (73% vs. 47%)
  • Graduates from Duquesne University earn on average $9,800 more per year than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates after ten years. ($65,100 vs. $55,300)
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley students graduate with a $182 lower median federal student loan debt than Duquesne University graduates. ($26,818 vs. $27,000)
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Duquesne University graduates. ($277 vs. $279)
  • More Duquesne 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/