Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Lehigh Valley is larger than Penn State Wilkes-Barre based on total student enrollment (867 students vs. 315 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Wilkes Barre is located in Dallas, PA (Rural Fringe setting); Penn State Lehigh Valley is in Center Valley, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Penn State Wilkes Barre is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Lehigh Valley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Wilkes Barre 10:1; Penn State Lehigh Valley 14:1.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Wilkes-Barre or Penn State Lehigh Valley? 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 Wilkes Barre than Penn State Lehigh Valley ($16,621 vs. $19,066).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Penn State Wilkes Barre and Penn State Lehigh Valley ($15,274).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley is 6.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Wilkes-Barre (about $928 more per year; $15,208.00 vs. $14,280.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.8% higher at Penn State Lehigh Valley than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (about $1,386 more per year; $25,392.00 vs. $24,006.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Wilkes Barre than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (89% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Wilkes Barre students is 7.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students ($9,742 vs. $9,065).

Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Lehigh Valley (1230) is 20 points higher than at Penn State Wilkes-Barre (1210).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Wilkes Barre 1090/1330; Penn State Lehigh Valley 1130/1320.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Wilkes-Barre - Test optional; Penn State Lehigh Valley - Test optional.
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than Penn State Wilkes-Barre (97%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15% at Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Wilkes-Barre and Penn State Lehigh Valley? 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).

• The graduation rate at Penn State Wilkes-Barre is the same as at Penn State Lehigh Valley (47% vs. 47%).
• Graduates of Penn State Wilkes Barre and Penn State Lehigh Valley have equivalent median earnings about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $55,300), per the federal College Scorecard cohort (typically among students working and not enrolled).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Lehigh Valley and Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates have the same median loan debt ($26,818 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Penn State Lehigh Valley and Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($277 vs. $277).
• Federal student loan repayment rates three years after graduation are the same for Penn State Lehigh Valley and Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates (69% 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.