Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. Roanoke College

Comparable Facts

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

Roanoke College is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (1,804 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. Roanoke College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Lehigh Valley or Roanoke College? 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 Roanoke College ($19,066 vs. $26,044).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Lehigh Valley are 0.6% lower than at Roanoke College ($15,274 vs. $15,366).
• Roanoke College is 150.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $22,860 more per year; $38,068.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 49.9% higher at Roanoke College than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $12,676 more per year; $38,068.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Roanoke College than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (100% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Roanoke College students is 211% larger than aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students ($28,188 vs. $9,065).

Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. Roanoke College Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Lehigh Valley (1230) is 30 points higher than at Roanoke College (1200).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Lehigh Valley 1130/1320; Roanoke College 1090/1300.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsRoanoke College 24/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Lehigh Valley - Test optional; Roanoke College - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Roanoke College students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at Penn State Lehigh Valley (3.42).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than Roanoke College (83.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. 9.7% at Roanoke College.

Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. Roanoke College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Roanoke College's six-year graduation rate (69%) is higher than Penn State Lehigh Valley's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Lehigh Valley earn a median of about $4,100 more per year than Roanoke College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $51,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Roanoke College 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 Roanoke College graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Roanoke College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Lehigh Valley students, three years after graduation. (75% 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.