EC vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Lehigh Valley is larger than EC based on total student enrollment (867 students vs. 786 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Elmira College is located in Elmira, NY (Small City setting); Penn State Lehigh Valley is in Center Valley, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Elmira 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: Elmira College 11:1; Penn State Lehigh Valley 14:1.

EC vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, EC 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 EC ($19,066 vs. $23,682).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elmira College are 4.7% lower than at Penn State Lehigh Valley ($14,550 vs. $15,274).
• Elmira College is 156.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $23,768 more per year; $38,976.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 53.5% higher at EC than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $13,584 more per year; $38,976.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Elmira College than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (100% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Elmira College students is 217.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students ($28,780 vs. $9,065).

EC vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, EC 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 EC.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Elmira College (1240) is 10 points higher than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (1230).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elmira College 1090/1385; Penn State Lehigh Valley 1130/1320.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elmira College 26/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: EC - Test optional; Penn State Lehigh Valley - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Lehigh Valley students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at EC (3.22).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than EC (77%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at EC vs. 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

EC vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for EC 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).

• Elmira College's six-year graduation rate (60%) is higher than Penn State Lehigh Valley's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Lehigh Valley earn a median of about $9,300 more per year than EC graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $46,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than EC 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 EC graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More EC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Lehigh Valley students, three years after graduation. (72% 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.