ECSU vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley

Comparable Facts

Compare Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic, CT with Penn State Lehigh Valley in Center Valley, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Eastern Connecticut State University is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (4,355 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Eastern Connecticut State University is located in Willimantic, CT (Distant Town setting); Penn State Lehigh Valley is in Center Valley, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Eastern Connecticut State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Lehigh Valley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Eastern Connecticut State University 15:1; Penn State Lehigh Valley 14:1.

ECSU vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECSU 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 ECSU ($19,066 vs. $21,512).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Lehigh Valley are 12.4% lower than at Eastern Connecticut State University ($15,274 vs. $17,445).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley is 9.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECSU (about $1,280 more per year; $15,208.00 vs. $13,928.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 45.7% higher at Penn State Lehigh Valley than at Eastern Connecticut State University (about $7,964 more per year; $25,392.00 vs. $17,428.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Eastern Connecticut State University than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (94% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Connecticut State University students is 15.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students ($10,480 vs. $9,065).

ECSU vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ECSU 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 ECSU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Lehigh Valley (1230) is 60 points higher than at ECSU (1170).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Eastern Connecticut State University 1070/1260; Penn State Lehigh Valley 1130/1320.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ECSU - Test optional; Penn State Lehigh Valley - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Lehigh Valley students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at ECSU (3.4).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than ECSU (83%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15% at ECSU vs. 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

ECSU vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECSU 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).

• Eastern Connecticut State University's six-year graduation rate (49%) is higher than Penn State Lehigh Valley's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Lehigh Valley earn a median of about $8,900 more per year than ECSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $46,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Eastern Connecticut State University graduates have a $3,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($23,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, ECSU graduates have an estimated $40 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($237 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ECSU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 68%)

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.