LVC vs. Penn State Altoona

Comparable Facts

Compare Lebanon Valley College in Annville, PA with Penn State Altoona in Altoona, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Altoona is larger than LVC based on total student enrollment (2,371 students vs. 2,146 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lebanon Valley College is located in Annville, PA (Small Suburban setting); Penn State Altoona is in Altoona, PA (Small City setting).
• Lebanon Valley College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Altoona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lebanon Valley College 11:1; Penn State Altoona 13:1.

LVC vs. Penn State Altoona Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, LVC or Penn State Altoona? 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 Altoona than LVC ($21,618 vs. $27,995).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Altoona are 12.7% lower than at Lebanon Valley College ($14,474 vs. $16,576).
• Lebanon Valley College is 226.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Altoona (about $36,108 more per year; $52,080.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 93.2% higher at LVC than at Penn State Altoona (about $25,122 more per year; $52,080.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lebanon Valley College than at Penn State Altoona (100% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lebanon Valley College students is 248.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Altoona students ($38,653 vs. $11,088).

LVC vs. Penn State Altoona Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, LVC or Penn State Altoona? 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 Altoona and LVC.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lebanon Valley College (1220) is 40 points higher than at Penn State Altoona (1180).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lebanon Valley College 1140/1302; Penn State Altoona 1070/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPenn State Altoona 22/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: LVC - Test optional; Penn State Altoona - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman LVC students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Penn State Altoona (3.4).
• Penn State Altoona has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than LVC (83.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.4% at LVC vs. 10.3% at Penn State Altoona.

LVC vs. Penn State Altoona Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for LVC and Penn State Altoona? 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).

• Lebanon Valley College's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than Penn State Altoona's (65%).
• Graduates from Penn State Altoona earn a median of about $7,800 more per year than LVC graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $47,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Altoona graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than LVC graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Altoona graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than LVC graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More LVC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Altoona students, three years after graduation. (83% 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.