Penn State Erie-Behrend College vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Erie Behrend College is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (3,336 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Erie Behrend College is located in Erie, PA (Rural Fringe setting); Penn State Lehigh Valley is in Center Valley, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Penn State Erie Behrend College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Lehigh Valley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Erie Behrend College 12:1; Penn State Lehigh Valley 14:1.

Penn State Erie-Behrend College vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Erie-Behrend College 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 Penn State Erie-Behrend College ($19,066 vs. $23,764).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Erie Behrend College are 5.2% lower than at Penn State Lehigh Valley ($14,474 vs. $15,274).
• Penn State Erie Behrend College is 5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $764 more per year; $15,972.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.2% higher at Penn State Erie-Behrend College than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $1,566 more per year; $26,958.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Lehigh Valley than at Penn State Erie Behrend College (80% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Erie Behrend College students is 18.7% larger than aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students ($10,760 vs. $9,065).

Penn State Erie-Behrend College vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Erie-Behrend College 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 Penn State Erie-Behrend College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Lehigh Valley (1230) is 10 points higher than at Penn State Erie-Behrend College (1220).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Erie Behrend College 1120/1310; Penn State Lehigh Valley 1130/1320.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Erie Behrend College 25/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Erie-Behrend College - Test optional; Penn State Lehigh Valley - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Erie-Behrend College students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.49) than students at Penn State Lehigh Valley (3.42).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than Penn State Erie-Behrend College (96.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.5% at Penn State Erie-Behrend College vs. 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

Penn State Erie-Behrend College vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Erie-Behrend College 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).

• Penn State Erie Behrend College's six-year graduation rate (66%) is higher than Penn State Lehigh Valley's (47%).
• Graduates of Penn State Erie Behrend College and Penn State Lehigh Valley have equivalent median earnings about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $55,300), per the federal College Scorecard cohort (typically among students working and not enrolled).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Lehigh Valley and Penn State Erie-Behrend College graduates have the same median loan debt ($26,818 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Penn State Lehigh Valley and Penn State Erie-Behrend College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($277 vs. $277).
• Federal student loan repayment rates three years after graduation are the same for Penn State Lehigh Valley and Penn State Erie-Behrend College graduates (69% 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.