Kent State vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley

Comparable Facts

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

Kent State University at Kent is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (26,374 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Kent State University at Kent is located in Kent, OH (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Lehigh Valley is in Center Valley, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Kent State University at Kent is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Lehigh Valley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Kent State University at Kent 20:1; Penn State Lehigh Valley 14:1.

Kent State vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kent State 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 Kent State ($19,066 vs. $21,278).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kent State University at Kent are 9.7% lower than at Penn State Lehigh Valley ($13,794 vs. $15,274).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley is 14.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Kent State (about $1,976 more per year; $15,208.00 vs. $13,232.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10% higher at Penn State Lehigh Valley than at Kent State University at Kent (about $2,310 more per year; $25,392.00 vs. $23,082.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kent State University at Kent than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (95% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Kent State University at Kent students is 11.2% larger than aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students ($10,076 vs. $9,065).

Kent State vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Kent State 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 Kent State.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Lehigh Valley (1230) is 100 points higher than at Kent State (1130).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kent State University at Kent 1010/1240; Penn State Lehigh Valley 1130/1320.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kent State University at Kent 18/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Kent State - Test optional; Penn State Lehigh Valley - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Kent State Aug 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Kent State students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at Penn State Lehigh Valley (3.42).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than Kent State (86.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.3% at Kent State vs. 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

Kent State vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Kent State 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).

• Kent State University at Kent's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than Penn State Lehigh Valley's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Lehigh Valley earn a median of about $15,000 more per year than Kent State graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $40,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Kent State University at Kent graduates have a $993 lower median loan debt than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($25,825 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Kent State graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($267 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kent State students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 46%)

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.