FDU vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley

Comparable Facts

Compare Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus in Madison, NJ with Penn State Lehigh Valley in Center Valley, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (2,885 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus is located in Madison, NJ (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Lehigh Valley is in Center Valley, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Lehigh Valley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus 11:1; Penn State Lehigh Valley 14:1.

FDU vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, FDU 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 FDU ($19,066 vs. $25,585).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Lehigh Valley are 6.1% lower than at Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus ($15,274 vs. $16,270).
• Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus is 149.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $22,796 more per year; $38,004.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 49.7% higher at FDU than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $12,612 more per year; $38,004.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (100% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus students is 212.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students ($28,294 vs. $9,065).

FDU vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, FDU 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 FDU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Lehigh Valley (1230) is 50 points higher than at FDU (1180).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus 1040/1310; Penn State Lehigh Valley 1130/1320.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus 19/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: FDU - Test optional; Penn State Lehigh Valley - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman FDU students have the same average high school GPA (3.42) as students at Penn State Lehigh Valley (3.42).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than FDU (95.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.5% at FDU vs. 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

FDU vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for FDU 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).

• Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus's six-year graduation rate (55%) is higher than Penn State Lehigh Valley's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Lehigh Valley earn a median of about $2,400 more per year than FDU graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $52,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus graduates have a $818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, FDU graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($268 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FDU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 60%)

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.