Emerson vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley

Comparable Facts

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

Emerson College is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (5,263 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Emerson College is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Penn State Lehigh Valley is in Center Valley, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Emerson 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: Emerson College 14:1; Penn State Lehigh Valley 14:1.

Emerson vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Emerson 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 Emerson ($19,066 vs. $53,432).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Lehigh Valley are 27% lower than at Emerson College ($15,274 vs. $20,920).
• Emerson College is 275.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $41,848 more per year; $57,056.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 124.7% higher at Emerson than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $31,664 more per year; $57,056.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Lehigh Valley than at Emerson College (80% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Emerson College students is 197.8% larger than aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students ($26,997 vs. $9,065).

Emerson vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Emerson 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 Emerson.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Emerson College (1350) is 120 points higher than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (1230).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 1270/1420; Penn State Lehigh Valley 1130/1320.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 29/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Emerson - Test optional; Penn State Lehigh Valley - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Emerson Feb 20, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Emerson students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at Penn State Lehigh Valley (3.42).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than Emerson (51.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.5% at Emerson vs. 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

Emerson vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Emerson 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).

• Emerson College's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than Penn State Lehigh Valley's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Lehigh Valley earn a median of about $6,100 more per year than Emerson graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $49,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Emerson College graduates have a $3,318 lower median loan debt than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($23,500 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Emerson graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($242 vs. $277).
• More Emerson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Lehigh Valley students, three years after graduation. (80% 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.