Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. VWC

Comparable Facts

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

Virginia Wesleyan University is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (1,853 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 Wesleyan University is in Virginia Beach, VA (Large City setting).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Lehigh Valley 14:1; Virginia Wesleyan University 15:1.

Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. VWC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Lehigh Valley or VWC? 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 VWC ($19,066 vs. $21,267).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Wesleyan University are 21.9% lower than at Penn State Lehigh Valley ($11,930 vs. $15,274).
• Virginia Wesleyan University is 146.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $22,292 more per year; $37,500.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 47.7% higher at VWC than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $12,108 more per year; $37,500.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Wesleyan University than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (100% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Wesleyan University students is 230.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students ($29,923 vs. $9,065).

Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. VWC Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Virginia Wesleyan University (1250) is 20 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; Virginia Wesleyan University 1140/1350.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsVirginia Wesleyan University 28/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Lehigh Valley - Test optional; VWC - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Lehigh Valley students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at VWC (3.39).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than VWC (72.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. 11.9% at VWC.

Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. VWC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Lehigh Valley and VWC? 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 Wesleyan University's six-year graduation rate (48%) is higher than Penn State Lehigh Valley's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Lehigh Valley earn a median of about $13,600 more per year than VWC graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $41,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than VWC graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VWC graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VWC students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 57%)

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.