LRC vs. Penn State Beaver

Comparable Facts

Compare La Roche University in Pittsburgh, PA with Penn State Beaver in Monaca, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

La Roche University is larger than Penn State Beaver based on total student enrollment (2,153 students vs. 482 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• La Roche University is located in Pittsburgh, PA (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Beaver is in Monaca, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• La Roche University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Beaver is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: La Roche University 11:1; Penn State Beaver 12:1.

LRC vs. Penn State Beaver Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, LRC or Penn State Beaver? 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 Beaver than LRC ($18,581 vs. $24,108).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at La Roche University are 7.5% lower than at Penn State Beaver ($13,390 vs. $14,474).
• La Roche University is 136.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Beaver (about $19,644 more per year; $34,052.00 vs. $14,408.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 41.1% higher at LRC than at Penn State Beaver (about $9,918 more per year; $34,052.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Beaver than at La Roche University (88% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by La Roche University students is 155.2% larger than aid received by Penn State Beaver students ($23,083 vs. $9,045).

LRC vs. Penn State Beaver Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, LRC or Penn State Beaver? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Penn State Beaver and LRC.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Penn State Beaver (1190) is 120 points higher than at LRC (1070).
• Incoming Penn State Beaver students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (25 vs. 18 at LRC).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: La Roche University 940/1200; Penn State Beaver 1080/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: La Roche University 15/22; Penn State Beaver 24/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: LRC - Test optional; Penn State Beaver - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: LRC Aug 1, 2027.
• Penn State Beaver has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than LRC (75.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.8% at LRC vs. 9.5% at Penn State Beaver.

LRC vs. Penn State Beaver Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for LRC and Penn State Beaver? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• La Roche University's six-year graduation rate (51%) is higher than Penn State Beaver's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Beaver earn a median of about $11,000 more per year than LRC graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $44,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, La Roche University graduates have a $818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Beaver graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, LRC graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Beaver graduates ($268 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Beaver graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former LRC students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 62%)

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.