Mount St. Mary's University vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley

Comparable Facts

Compare Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg, MD with Penn State Lehigh Valley in Center Valley, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Mount St. Mary's University is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (2,408 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mount St. Mary's University is located in Emmitsburg, MD (Rural Fringe setting); Penn State Lehigh Valley is in Center Valley, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Mount St. Mary's 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: Mount St. Mary's University 13:1; Penn State Lehigh Valley 14:1.

Mount St. Mary's University vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mount St. Mary's University 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 Mount St. Mary's University ($19,066 vs. $23,027).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mount St. Mary's University are 1.5% lower than at Penn State Lehigh Valley ($15,050 vs. $15,274).
• Mount St. Mary's University is 219.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $33,422 more per year; $48,630.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 91.5% higher at Mount St. Mary's University than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $23,238 more per year; $48,630.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mount St. Mary's University than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (100% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mount St. Mary's University students is 348.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students ($40,619 vs. $9,065).

Mount St. Mary's University vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mount St. Mary's University 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 Mount St. Mary's University.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Lehigh Valley (1230) is 70 points higher than at Mount St. Mary's University (1160).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount St. Mary's University 1046/1280; Penn State Lehigh Valley 1130/1320.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount St. Mary's University 19/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Mount St. Mary's University - Test optional; Penn State Lehigh Valley - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Mount St. Mary's University Mar 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Lehigh Valley students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Mount St. Mary's University (3.36).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than Mount St. Mary's University (73.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.2% at Mount St. Mary's University vs. 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

Mount St. Mary's University vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mount St. Mary's University 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).

• Mount St. Mary's University's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than Penn State Lehigh Valley's (47%).
• Graduates from Mount St. Mary's University earn a median of about $800 more per year than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,100 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mount St. Mary's University graduates have a $818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Mount St. Mary's University graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($268 vs. $277).
• More Mount St. Mary's University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Lehigh Valley students, three years after graduation. (77% 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.