SUNY Poly vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley

Comparable Facts

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

SUNY Polytechnic Institute is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (2,733 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

SUNY Poly vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SUNY Poly 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 SUNY Polytechnic Institute than Penn State Lehigh Valley ($14,782 vs. $19,066).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Lehigh Valley are 7.9% lower than at SUNY Polytechnic Institute ($15,274 vs. $16,584).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley is 76.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Poly (about $6,583 more per year; $15,208.00 vs. $8,625.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.7% higher at Penn State Lehigh Valley than at SUNY Polytechnic Institute (about $4,177 more per year; $25,392.00 vs. $21,215.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at SUNY Polytechnic Institute than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (100% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students is 8.5% larger than aid received by SUNY Polytechnic Institute students ($9,065 vs. $8,357).

SUNY Poly vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SUNY Poly 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 SUNY Poly.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Lehigh Valley (1230) is 30 points higher than at SUNY Poly (1200).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: SUNY Polytechnic Institute 1025/1370; Penn State Lehigh Valley 1130/1320.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: SUNY Polytechnic Institute 22/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SUNY Poly - Test optional; Penn State Lehigh Valley - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: SUNY Poly Aug 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman SUNY Poly 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 SUNY Poly (81.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.7% at SUNY Poly vs. 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

SUNY Poly vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SUNY Poly 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 SUNY Poly is the same as at Penn State Lehigh Valley (47% vs. 47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Lehigh Valley earn a median of about $2,100 more per year than SUNY Poly graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $53,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, SUNY Polytechnic Institute graduates have a $10,233 lower median loan debt than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($16,585 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, SUNY Poly graduates have an estimated $106 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($171 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY Poly students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 63%)

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.