Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. WCU

Comparable Facts

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

West Chester University of Pennsylvania is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (17,171 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Lehigh Valley is located in Center Valley, PA (Large Suburban setting); West Chester University of Pennsylvania is in West Chester, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. West Chester University of Pennsylvania is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Lehigh Valley 14:1; West Chester University of Pennsylvania 20:1.

Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. WCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Lehigh Valley or WCU? 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 WCU ($19,066 vs. $22,546).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at West Chester University of Pennsylvania are 2.9% lower than at Penn State Lehigh Valley ($14,828 vs. $15,274).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley is 41.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than WCU (about $4,433 more per year; $15,208.00 vs. $10,775.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.4% higher at Penn State Lehigh Valley than at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (about $2,793 more per year; $25,392.00 vs. $22,599.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Lehigh Valley than at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (80% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students is 58.8% larger than aid received by West Chester University of Pennsylvania students ($9,065 vs. $5,709).

Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. WCU Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Lehigh Valley (1230) is 40 points higher than at WCU (1190).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Lehigh Valley 1130/1320; West Chester University of Pennsylvania 1100/1270.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsWest Chester University of Pennsylvania 24/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Lehigh Valley - Test optional; WCU - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman WCU students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.43) than students at Penn State Lehigh Valley (3.42).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than WCU (78.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. 22.4% at WCU.

Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• West Chester University of Pennsylvania's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Penn State Lehigh Valley's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Lehigh Valley earn a median of about $6,300 more per year than WCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $49,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, West Chester University of Pennsylvania graduates have a $3,318 lower median loan debt than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($23,500 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, WCU graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($242 vs. $277).
• More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Lehigh Valley students, three years after graduation. (75% 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.