UD vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Delaware in Newark, DE with Penn State Lehigh Valley in Center Valley, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Delaware is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (24,412 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Delaware is located in Newark, DE (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Lehigh Valley is in Center Valley, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• University of Delaware is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Lehigh Valley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Delaware 16:1; Penn State Lehigh Valley 14:1.

UD vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UD 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 UD ($19,066 vs. $19,139).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Lehigh Valley are 0.7% lower than at University of Delaware ($15,274 vs. $15,386).
• University of Delaware is 10.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $1,602 more per year; $16,810.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 63% higher at UD than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $16,008 more per year; $41,400.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Delaware than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (91% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Delaware students is 46.7% larger than aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students ($13,302 vs. $9,065).

UD vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UD 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 UD.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Delaware (1280) is 50 points higher than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (1230).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Delaware 1190/1370; Penn State Lehigh Valley 1130/1320.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Delaware 28/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UD - Test optional; Penn State Lehigh Valley - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UD Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UD students have a 0.52 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Penn State Lehigh Valley (3.42).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than UD (70.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.7% at UD vs. 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

UD vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UD 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).

• University of Delaware's six-year graduation rate (78%) is higher than Penn State Lehigh Valley's (47%).
• Graduates from University of Delaware earn a median of about $6,000 more per year than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,300 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Delaware graduates have a $2,615 lower median loan debt than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($24,203 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, UD graduates have an estimated $27 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($250 vs. $277).
• More UD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Lehigh Valley students, three years after graduation. (80% 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.