Lehigh vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley

Comparable Facts

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

Lehigh University is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (7,692 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lehigh University is located in Bethlehem, PA (Small City setting); Penn State Lehigh Valley is in Center Valley, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Lehigh 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: Lehigh University 10:1; Penn State Lehigh Valley 14:1.

Lehigh vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lehigh 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 Lehigh ($19,066 vs. $34,154).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Lehigh Valley are 11.3% lower than at Lehigh University ($15,274 vs. $17,220).
• Lehigh University is 327.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $49,772 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 155.9% higher at Lehigh than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $39,588 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Lehigh Valley than at Lehigh University (80% vs. 65%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lehigh University students is 415.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students ($46,731 vs. $9,065).

Lehigh vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lehigh 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 Lehigh.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lehigh University (1440) is 210 points higher than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (1230).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lehigh University 1370/1500; Penn State Lehigh Valley 1130/1320.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lehigh University 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lehigh - Test optional; Penn State Lehigh Valley - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Lehigh Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Lehigh students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Penn State Lehigh Valley (3.42).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than Lehigh (25.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.4% at Lehigh vs. 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

Lehigh vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lehigh 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).

• Lehigh University's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Penn State Lehigh Valley's (47%).
• Graduates from Lehigh University earn a median of about $33,900 more per year than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,200 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lehigh University graduates have a $2,562 lower median loan debt than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($24,256 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Lehigh graduates have an estimated $27 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($250 vs. $277).
• More Lehigh graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Lehigh Valley students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.