Elizabethtown College vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley

Comparable Facts

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

Elizabethtown College is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (2,283 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Elizabethtown College vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elizabethtown 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 Penn State Lehigh Valley than Elizabethtown College ($19,066 vs. $27,760).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elizabethtown College are 12.7% lower than at Penn State Lehigh Valley ($13,340 vs. $15,274).
• Elizabethtown College is 149.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $22,742 more per year; $37,950.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 49.5% higher at Elizabethtown College than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $12,558 more per year; $37,950.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Elizabethtown College than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (100% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Elizabethtown College students is 154.4% larger than aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students ($23,064 vs. $9,065).

Elizabethtown College vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Lehigh Valley (1230) is 20 points higher than at Elizabethtown College (1210).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elizabethtown College 1105/1310; Penn State Lehigh Valley 1130/1320.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elizabethtown College 26/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Elizabethtown College - Test optional; Penn State Lehigh Valley - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Elizabethtown College students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at Penn State Lehigh Valley (3.42).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than Elizabethtown College (77.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.6% at Elizabethtown College vs. 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

Elizabethtown College vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Elizabethtown 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).

• Elizabethtown College's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than Penn State Lehigh Valley's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Lehigh Valley earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than Elizabethtown College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $51,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Elizabethtown College graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Elizabethtown College graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Elizabethtown College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Lehigh Valley students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 69%)

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.