Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. URI

Comparable Facts

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

University of Rhode Island is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (17,210 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 Rhode Island is in Kingston, RI (Large Suburban setting).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Rhode Island is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Lehigh Valley 14:1; University of Rhode Island 17:1.

Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. URI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Lehigh Valley or URI? 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 URI ($19,066 vs. $24,118).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Lehigh Valley are 2.1% lower than at University of Rhode Island ($15,274 vs. $15,607).
• University of Rhode Island is 11.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $1,734 more per year; $16,942.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 46.3% higher at URI than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $11,754 more per year; $37,146.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Rhode Island than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (96% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Rhode Island students is 38.8% larger than aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students ($12,578 vs. $9,065).

Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. URI Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Lehigh Valley (1230) is 80 points higher than at URI (1150).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Lehigh Valley 1130/1320; University of Rhode Island 1020/1280.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Lehigh Valley - Test optional; URI - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: URI Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman URI students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at Penn State Lehigh Valley (3.42).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than URI (72.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. 15.4% at URI.

Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. URI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Lehigh Valley and URI? 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 Rhode Island's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Penn State Lehigh Valley's (47%).
• Graduates from University of Rhode Island earn a median of about $900 more per year than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Rhode Island graduates have a $3,380 lower median loan debt than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($23,438 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, URI graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($242 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former URI students, three years after graduation. (69% 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.