Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Lehigh Valley in Center Valley, PA with South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City, SD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (2,576 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Lehigh Valley is located in Center Valley, PA (Large Suburban setting); South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is in Rapid City, SD (Small City setting).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Lehigh Valley 14:1; South Dakota School of Mines and Technology 12:1.

Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Lehigh Valley or South Dakota School of Mines and Technology? 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 South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ($19,066 vs. $20,267).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology are 39.1% lower than at Penn State Lehigh Valley ($9,300 vs. $15,274).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley is 44.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (about $4,708 more per year; $15,208.00 vs. $10,500.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 70.4% higher at Penn State Lehigh Valley than at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (about $10,492 more per year; $25,392.00 vs. $14,900.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (84% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students is 69.9% larger than aid received by South Dakota School of Mines and Technology students ($9,065 vs. $5,334).

Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Lehigh Valley or South Dakota School of Mines and Technology? 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 South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and Penn State Lehigh Valley.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (1240) is 10 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; South Dakota School of Mines and Technology 1140/1340.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSouth Dakota School of Mines and Technology 24/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Lehigh Valley - Test optional; South Dakota School of Mines and Technology - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Feb 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman South Dakota School of Mines and Technology students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at Penn State Lehigh Valley (3.42).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (79.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. 38.1% at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Lehigh Valley and South Dakota School of Mines and Technology? 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).

• South Dakota School of Mines and Technology's six-year graduation rate (48%) is higher than Penn State Lehigh Valley's (47%).
• Graduates from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology earn a median of about $4,700 more per year than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,000 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates have a $682 lower median loan debt than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,500).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than South Dakota School of Mines and Technology graduates ($277 vs. $284).
• More South Dakota School of Mines and Technology graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Lehigh Valley students, three years after graduation. (79% 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.