Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. Wilson College

Comparable Facts

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

Wilson College is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (1,907 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Lehigh Valley is located in Center Valley, PA (Large Suburban setting); Wilson College is in Chambersburg, PA (Distant Town setting).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Wilson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Lehigh Valley 14:1; Wilson College 15:1.

Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. Wilson College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Lehigh Valley or Wilson 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 Wilson College ($19,066 vs. $21,748).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wilson College are 19.5% lower than at Penn State Lehigh Valley ($12,296 vs. $15,274).
• Wilson College is 78.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $11,892 more per year; $27,100.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.7% higher at Wilson College than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $1,708 more per year; $27,100.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wilson College than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (97% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wilson College students is 95.7% larger than aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students ($17,736 vs. $9,065).

Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. Wilson College Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Lehigh Valley (1230) is 170 points higher than at Wilson College (1060).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Lehigh Valley 1130/1320; Wilson College 930/1180.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Lehigh Valley - Test optional; Wilson College - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Wilson College students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at Penn State Lehigh Valley (3.42).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than Wilson College (92.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. 21.5% at Wilson College.

Penn State Lehigh Valley vs. Wilson College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Wilson College'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 $20,600 more per year than Wilson College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $34,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Wilson College graduates have a $1,068 lower median loan debt than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($25,750 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Wilson College graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($266 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wilson College students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 66%)

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.