LVC vs. Penn State Berks

Comparable Facts

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

Lebanon Valley College is larger than Penn State Berks based on total student enrollment (2,146 students vs. 1,884 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

LVC vs. Penn State Berks Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, LVC or Penn State Berks? 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 Berks than LVC ($23,721 vs. $27,995).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Berks 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 Berks (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 Berks (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 Berks (100% vs. 69%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lebanon Valley College students is 311% larger than aid received by Penn State Berks students ($38,653 vs. $9,405).

LVC vs. Penn State Berks Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lebanon Valley College (1220) is 40 points higher than at Penn State Berks (1180).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lebanon Valley College 1140/1302; Penn State Berks 1090/1275.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPenn State Berks 18/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: LVC - Test optional; Penn State Berks - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman LVC students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Penn State Berks (3.39).
• Penn State Berks has a higher acceptance rate (98.7%) than LVC (83.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.4% at LVC vs. 9.4% at Penn State Berks.

LVC vs. Penn State Berks Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for LVC and Penn State Berks? 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 Berks's (55%).
• Graduates from Penn State Berks 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 Berks graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than LVC graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Berks 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 Berks 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.