Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. Swarthmore

Comparable Facts

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

Swarthmore College is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (1,623 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Lehigh Valley is located in Center Valley, PA (Large Suburban setting); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Lehigh Valley 14:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Lehigh Valley or Swarthmore? 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 Swarthmore ($19,066 vs. $22,469).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Lehigh Valley are 24.8% lower than at Swarthmore College ($15,274 vs. $20,308).
• Swarthmore College is 330.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $50,286 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 157.9% higher at Swarthmore than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $40,102 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Lehigh Valley than at Swarthmore College (80% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 579.9% larger than aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students ($61,634 vs. $9,065).

Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 300 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; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSwarthmore College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Lehigh Valley - Test optional; Swarthmore - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.48 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Penn State Lehigh Valley (3.42).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Swarthmore College's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than Penn State Lehigh Valley's (47%).
• Graduates from Swarthmore College earn a median of about $10,500 more per year than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,800 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Swarthmore College graduates have a $7,318 lower median loan debt than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($19,500 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Swarthmore graduates have an estimated $76 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($201 vs. $277).
• More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Lehigh Valley students, three years after graduation. (87% 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.