Hood vs. University of Valley Forge

Comparable Facts

Compare Hood College in Frederick, MD with University of Valley Forge in Phoenixville, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Hood College is larger than University of Valley Forge based on total student enrollment (2,101 students vs. 589 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Hood College is located in Frederick, MD (Small City setting); University of Valley Forge is in Phoenixville, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Hood College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Valley Forge is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Hood College 10:1; University of Valley Forge 12:1.

Hood vs. University of Valley Forge Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hood or University of Valley Forge? 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 Hood College than University of Valley Forge ($23,350 vs. $27,083).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Valley Forge are 27.5% lower than at Hood College ($11,750 vs. $16,200).
• Hood College is 89% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of Valley Forge (about $22,460 more per year; $47,700.00 vs. $25,240.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 89% higher at Hood than at University of Valley Forge (about $22,460 more per year; $47,700.00 vs. $25,240.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Hood College as at University of Valley Forge (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Hood College students is 106.6% larger than aid received by University of Valley Forge students ($37,957 vs. $18,369).

Hood vs. University of Valley Forge Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Hood or University of Valley Forge? 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 University of Valley Forge and Hood.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Hood - Test-free; University of Valley Forge - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Hood Aug 15, 2027; University of Valley Forge Aug 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Hood students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at University of Valley Forge (3.33).
• Hood has a higher acceptance rate (77.8%) than University of Valley Forge (61.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12% at Hood vs. 27.9% at University of Valley Forge.

Hood vs. University of Valley Forge Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hood and University of Valley Forge? 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).

• Hood College's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than University of Valley Forge's (53%).
• Graduates from Hood College earn a median of about $13,600 more per year than University of Valley Forge graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,300 vs. $33,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Valley Forge and Hood graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, University of Valley Forge and Hood graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More Hood graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Valley Forge students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 53%)

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.