F&M vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley

Comparable Facts

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

Franklin and Marshall College is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (1,808 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Franklin and Marshall College is located in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting); Penn State Lehigh Valley is in Center Valley, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Franklin and Marshall 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: Franklin and Marshall College 9:1; Penn State Lehigh Valley 14:1.

F&M vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, F&M 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 F&M ($19,066 vs. $43,987).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Lehigh Valley are 5.6% lower than at Franklin and Marshall College ($15,274 vs. $16,188).
• Franklin and Marshall College is 365.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $55,586 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 178.8% higher at F&M than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $45,402 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Franklin and Marshall College as at Penn State Lehigh Valley (80% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Franklin and Marshall College students is 362.2% larger than aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students ($41,901 vs. $9,065).

F&M vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, F&M 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 F&M.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Franklin and Marshall College (1390) is 160 points higher than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (1230).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Franklin and Marshall College 1310/1463; Penn State Lehigh Valley 1130/1320.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Franklin and Marshall College 30/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: F&M - Test optional; Penn State Lehigh Valley - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: F&M Jan 15, 2027.
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than F&M (28.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at F&M vs. 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

F&M vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for F&M 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).

• Franklin and Marshall College's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Penn State Lehigh Valley's (47%).
• Graduates from Franklin and Marshall College earn a median of about $6,600 more per year than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Franklin and Marshall College graduates have a $4,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($22,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, F&M graduates have an estimated $50 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($227 vs. $277).
• More F&M graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Lehigh Valley students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.