Howard vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley

Comparable Facts

Compare Howard University in Washington, DC with Penn State Lehigh Valley in Center Valley, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Howard University is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (14,890 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Howard University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Penn State Lehigh Valley is in Center Valley, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Howard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Lehigh Valley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Howard University 13:1; Penn State Lehigh Valley 14:1.

Howard vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Howard 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 Howard ($19,066 vs. $33,368).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Lehigh Valley are 11.8% lower than at Howard University ($15,274 vs. $17,322).
• Howard University is 135.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $20,602 more per year; $35,810.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 41% higher at Howard than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $10,418 more per year; $35,810.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Howard University than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (99% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Howard University students is 134.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students ($21,262 vs. $9,065).

Howard vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Howard 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 Howard.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Lehigh Valley (1230) is 20 points higher than at Howard (1210).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Howard University 1090/1320; Penn State Lehigh Valley 1130/1320.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Howard University 22/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Howard - Test optional; Penn State Lehigh Valley - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Howard Feb 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Howard students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at Penn State Lehigh Valley (3.42).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than Howard (41.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.4% at Howard vs. 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

Howard vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Howard 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).

• Howard University's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Penn State Lehigh Valley's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Lehigh Valley earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than Howard graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $51,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Howard 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 Howard graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Howard students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 33%)

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.