Cedar Crest College vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny

Comparable Facts

Compare Cedar Crest College in Allentown, PA with Penn State Greater Allegheny in McKeesport, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cedar Crest College is larger than Penn State Greater Allegheny based on total student enrollment (1,290 students vs. 352 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cedar Crest College is located in Allentown, PA (Midsize City setting); Penn State Greater Allegheny is in McKeesport, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Cedar Crest College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Greater Allegheny is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cedar Crest College 9:1; Penn State Greater Allegheny 9:1.

Cedar Crest College vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cedar Crest College or Penn State Greater Allegheny? 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 Greater Allegheny than Cedar Crest College ($15,574 vs. $23,691).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cedar Crest College are 7.4% lower than at Penn State Greater Allegheny ($13,406 vs. $14,474).
• Cedar Crest College is 221.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Greater Allegheny (about $31,906 more per year; $46,314.00 vs. $14,408.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 91.9% higher at Cedar Crest College than at Penn State Greater Allegheny (about $22,180 more per year; $46,314.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cedar Crest College than at Penn State Greater Allegheny (99% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cedar Crest College students is 199.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Greater Allegheny students ($33,323 vs. $11,121).

Cedar Crest College vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cedar Crest College or Penn State Greater Allegheny? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Penn State Greater Allegheny and Cedar Crest College.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Penn State Greater Allegheny (1180) is 60 points higher than at Cedar Crest College (1120).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Cedar Crest College 1000/1230; Penn State Greater Allegheny 1080/1280.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cedar Crest College - Test-free; Penn State Greater Allegheny - Test optional.
• Penn State Greater Allegheny has a higher acceptance rate (96.5%) than Cedar Crest College (84.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.5% at Cedar Crest College vs. 19.5% at Penn State Greater Allegheny.

Cedar Crest College vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cedar Crest College and Penn State Greater Allegheny? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Cedar Crest College's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than Penn State Greater Allegheny's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Greater Allegheny earn a median of about $7,500 more per year than Cedar Crest College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $47,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Greater Allegheny graduates have a $932 lower median loan debt than Cedar Crest College graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,750).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Greater Allegheny graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cedar Crest College graduates ($277 vs. $286).
• More Penn State Greater Allegheny graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cedar Crest College students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 59%)

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.