Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. Providence

Comparable Facts

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

Providence College is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (4,666 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Lehigh Valley is located in Center Valley, PA (Large Suburban setting); Providence College is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Providence College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Lehigh Valley 14:1; Providence College 11:1.

Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. Providence Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Lehigh Valley or Providence? 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 Providence ($19,066 vs. $48,618).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Lehigh Valley are 14.4% lower than at Providence College ($15,274 vs. $17,840).
• Providence College is 317.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $48,342 more per year; $63,550.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 150.3% higher at Providence than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $38,158 more per year; $63,550.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Providence College than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (83% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Providence College students is 251.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students ($31,873 vs. $9,065).

Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. Providence Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Lehigh Valley or Providence? 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 Providence and Penn State Lehigh Valley.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Providence College (1320) is 90 points higher than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (1230).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Lehigh Valley 1130/1320; Providence College 1250/1390.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsProvidence College 29/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Lehigh Valley - Test optional; Providence - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Providence Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Providence students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at Penn State Lehigh Valley (3.42).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than Providence (50.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. 19.2% at Providence.

Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. Providence Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Lehigh Valley and Providence? 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).

• Providence College's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Penn State Lehigh Valley's (47%).
• Graduates from Providence College earn a median of about $12,700 more per year than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,000 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Providence graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Providence graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Providence graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Lehigh Valley students, three years after graduation. (80% 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.