RIT vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley

Comparable Facts

Compare Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY with Penn State Lehigh Valley in Center Valley, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rochester Institute of Technology is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (17,098 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rochester Institute of Technology is located in Rochester, NY (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Lehigh Valley is in Center Valley, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Rochester Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Lehigh Valley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Rochester Institute of Technology 13:1; Penn State Lehigh Valley 14:1.

RIT vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RIT 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 Lehigh Valley than RIT ($19,066 vs. $39,534).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Lehigh Valley are 5.4% lower than at Rochester Institute of Technology ($15,274 vs. $16,142).
• Rochester Institute of Technology is 289.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $44,066 more per year; $59,274.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 133.4% higher at RIT than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $33,882 more per year; $59,274.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rochester Institute of Technology than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (98% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Rochester Institute of Technology students is 286.9% larger than aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students ($35,077 vs. $9,065).

RIT vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, RIT 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 RIT .

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rochester Institute of Technology (1380) is 150 points higher than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (1230).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rochester Institute of Technology 1300/1460; Penn State Lehigh Valley 1130/1320.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rochester Institute of Technology 29/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: RIT - Test optional; Penn State Lehigh Valley - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: RIT Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman RIT students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Penn State Lehigh Valley (3.42).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than RIT (66.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.3% at RIT vs. 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

RIT vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RIT 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).

• Rochester Institute of Technology's six-year graduation rate (64%) is higher than Penn State Lehigh Valley's (47%).
• Graduates from Rochester Institute of Technology earn a median of about $9,600 more per year than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,900 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates have a $1,182 lower median loan debt than RIT graduates ($26,818 vs. $28,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RIT graduates ($277 vs. $289).
• More RIT 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.