WPI vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley

Comparable Facts

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

Worcester Polytechnic Institute is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (7,584 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

WPI vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WPI 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 WPI ($19,066 vs. $47,372).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Lehigh Valley are 16.9% lower than at Worcester Polytechnic Institute ($15,274 vs. $18,386).
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute is 300.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $45,757 more per year; $60,965.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 140.1% higher at WPI than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $35,573 more per year; $60,965.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Worcester Polytechnic Institute than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (100% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Worcester Polytechnic Institute students is 248% larger than aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students ($31,545 vs. $9,065).

WPI vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WPI 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 WPI.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPenn State Lehigh Valley 1130/1320.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WPI - Test-free; Penn State Lehigh Valley - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: WPI Feb 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman WPI students have a 0.48 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Penn State Lehigh Valley (3.42).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than WPI (60.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.1% at WPI vs. 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

WPI vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WPI 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).

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than Penn State Lehigh Valley's (47%).
• Graduates from Worcester Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $27,400 more per year than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,700 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than WPI graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WPI graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More WPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Lehigh Valley students, three years after graduation. (92% 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.