Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. Westminster College

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Lehigh Valley in Center Valley, PA with Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Westminster College is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (1,191 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Lehigh Valley is located in Center Valley, PA (Large Suburban setting); Westminster College is in New Wilmington, PA (Town Fringe setting).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Westminster College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Lehigh Valley 14:1; Westminster College 12:1.

Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. Westminster College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Lehigh Valley or Westminster College? 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 Westminster College ($19,066 vs. $20,394).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Westminster College are 15.7% lower than at Penn State Lehigh Valley ($12,880 vs. $15,274).
• Westminster College is 164.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $25,082 more per year; $40,290.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 58.7% higher at Westminster College than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $14,898 more per year; $40,290.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Westminster College than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (100% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Westminster College students is 259.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students ($32,553 vs. $9,065).

Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. Westminster College Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Lehigh Valley (1230) is 80 points higher than at Westminster College (1150).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Lehigh Valley 1130/1320; Westminster College 1040/1258.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsWestminster College 20/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Lehigh Valley - Test optional; Westminster College - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman Westminster College students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at Penn State Lehigh Valley (3.42).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than Westminster College (92.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. 12.1% at Westminster College.

Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. Westminster College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Westminster College's six-year graduation rate (74%) is higher than Penn State Lehigh Valley's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Lehigh Valley earn a median of about $9,600 more per year than Westminster College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $45,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Westminster College 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 Westminster College graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Westminster College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Lehigh Valley students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.