TCNJ vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley

Comparable Facts

Compare The College of New Jersey in Ewing, NJ with Penn State Lehigh Valley in Center Valley, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

The College of New Jersey is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (8,141 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• The College of New Jersey is located in Ewing, NJ (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Lehigh Valley is in Center Valley, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• The College of New Jersey is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Lehigh Valley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: The College of New Jersey 14:1; Penn State Lehigh Valley 14:1.

TCNJ vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, TCNJ 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 TCNJ ($19,066 vs. $25,580).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The College of New Jersey are 2% lower than at Penn State Lehigh Valley ($14,976 vs. $15,274).
• The College of New Jersey is 29.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $4,424 more per year; $19,632.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.4% higher at TCNJ than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $360 more per year; $25,752.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Lehigh Valley than at The College of New Jersey (80% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The College of New Jersey students is 47.4% larger than aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students ($13,360 vs. $9,065).

TCNJ vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, TCNJ 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 TCNJ.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The College of New Jersey (1240) is 10 points higher than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (1230).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The College of New Jersey 1140/1340; Penn State Lehigh Valley 1130/1320.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The College of New Jersey 26/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: TCNJ - Test optional; Penn State Lehigh Valley - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: TCNJ Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Lehigh Valley students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at TCNJ (3.29).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than TCNJ (62.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.7% at TCNJ vs. 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

TCNJ vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for TCNJ 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 College of New Jersey's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Penn State Lehigh Valley's (47%).
• Graduates from The College of New Jersey earn a median of about $6,800 more per year than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The College of New Jersey graduates have a $3,568 lower median loan debt than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($23,250 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, TCNJ graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($240 vs. $277).
• More TCNJ graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Lehigh Valley students, three years after graduation. (85% 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.