Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. Penn

Comparable Facts

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

University of Pennsylvania is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (29,109 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Lehigh Valley is located in Center Valley, PA (Large Suburban setting); University of Pennsylvania is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pennsylvania is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Lehigh Valley 14:1; University of Pennsylvania 8:1.

Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. Penn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Lehigh Valley or Penn? 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 ($19,066 vs. $23,570).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Lehigh Valley are 20.3% lower than at University of Pennsylvania ($15,274 vs. $19,174).
• University of Pennsylvania is 351.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $53,478 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 170.5% higher at Penn than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $43,294 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Lehigh Valley than at University of Pennsylvania (80% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pennsylvania students is 622.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students ($65,458 vs. $9,065).

Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. Penn Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Pennsylvania (1540) is 310 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; University of Pennsylvania 1510/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Pennsylvania 34/36.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Lehigh Valley - Test optional; Penn - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: Penn Jan 5, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Penn students have a 0.53 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Penn State Lehigh Valley (3.42).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than Penn (5.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. 68% at Penn.

Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. Penn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• University of Pennsylvania's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Penn State Lehigh Valley's (47%).
• Graduates from University of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $68,300 more per year than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates about ten years after starting college ($123,600 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Pennsylvania graduates have a $6,185 lower median loan debt than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($20,633 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Penn graduates have an estimated $64 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($213 vs. $277).
• More Penn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Lehigh Valley students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.