Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. VCU

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Lehigh Valley in Center Valley, PA with Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Virginia Commonwealth University is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (28,464 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Lehigh Valley is located in Center Valley, PA (Large Suburban setting); Virginia Commonwealth University is in Richmond, VA (Midsize City setting).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Commonwealth University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Lehigh Valley 14:1; Virginia Commonwealth University 17:1.

Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. VCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Lehigh Valley or VCU? 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 VCU ($19,066 vs. $26,836).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Lehigh Valley are 16.3% lower than at Virginia Commonwealth University ($15,274 vs. $18,254).
• Virginia Commonwealth University is 11.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $1,737 more per year; $16,945.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 58% higher at VCU than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $14,717 more per year; $40,109.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Commonwealth University than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (88% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Commonwealth University students is 56.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students ($14,186 vs. $9,065).

Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. VCU Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Lehigh Valley (1230) is 90 points higher than at VCU (1140).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Lehigh Valley 1130/1320; Virginia Commonwealth University 1010/1270.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsVirginia Commonwealth University 22/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Lehigh Valley - Test optional; VCU - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: VCU Jan 18, 2027.
• Accepted freshman VCU students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Penn State Lehigh Valley (3.42).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than VCU (92.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. 21.6% at VCU.

Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. VCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Virginia Commonwealth University's six-year graduation rate (53%) is higher than Penn State Lehigh Valley's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Lehigh Valley earn a median of about $7,800 more per year than VCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $47,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Virginia Commonwealth University graduates have a $3,568 lower median loan debt than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($23,250 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, VCU graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($240 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VCU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 56%)

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.