City College of New York vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley

Deciding between CUNY City College and Penn State Lehigh Valley? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

CUNY City College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • City College of New York New York, NY
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley Center Valley, PA
  • Setting
  • City College of New York Large City
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • City College of New York 15,544
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley 867
  • Type
  • City College of New York Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • City College of New York #313
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley
  • Religious Affiliation
  • City College of New York -
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley -
  • Status
  • City College of New York Non-profit
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley Non-profit
  • Website
  • City College of New York cuny.edu
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley psu.edu
  • Team Colors
  • City College of New York
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • City College of New York $7,340
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley $15,208
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • City College of New York $15,290
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley $25,392
  • Room & Board
  • City College of New York $18,840
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley $15,274
  • Average Net Price
  • City College of New York $4,664
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley $19,066
  • Average Grant Aid
  • City College of New York $9,763
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley $9,065
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • City College of New York 88%
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley 80%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • City College of New York 34,322
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley 1,827
  • Admitted
  • City College of New York 20,600
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley 1,779
  • Acceptance Rate
  • City College of New York 60%
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley 97.4%
  • Enrolled
  • City College of New York 12.3%
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley 14%
  • Typical SAT score
  • City College of New York 1250
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley 1230
  • Typical ACT score
  • City College of New York
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley
  • Average High School GPA
  • City College of New York 3.2
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley 3.42
  • Typical High School Grades
  • City College of New York B+
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • City College of New York Very High
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • City College of New York Low
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley
  • ACT Range
  • City College of New York
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley
  • SAT Range
  • City College of New York 1070/1430
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley 1130/1320
  • Submit Test Scores
  • City College of New York Test optional
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • City College of New York Feb 1, 2027
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • City College of New York 15:1
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • City College of New York
    • Psychology (15%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley
    • Business (46%)
    • Education (25%)
    • Psychology (18%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (4%)
    • Foreign Languages (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • City College of New York 40%
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley 47%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • City College of New York $49,800
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • City College of New York 52%
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • City College of New York $11,400
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • City College of New York $117
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • City College of New York 47%
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley 59%
  • % Women
  • City College of New York 53%
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • City College of New York Very High
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley Medium
  • HBCU
  • City College of New York No
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley No
  • % White
  • City College of New York 15%
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley 64%
  • % Asian
  • City College of New York 25%
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley 10%
  • % Black
  • City College of New York 16%
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • City College of New York 35%
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley 16%
  • % Native American
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • City College of New York 2%
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley 2%
  • % International
  • City College of New York 6%
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • City College of New York 83%
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley 90%
  • % Out-of-State
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley 9%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • City College of New York Yes
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • City College of New York No
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley No
  • Meal Plan
  • City College of New York No
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • City College of New York No
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley No
  • Daycare Facility
  • City College of New York Yes
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley No
  • Learn More
  • City College of New York Details
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley Details

Comparable Facts

Compare CUNY City College in New York, NY with Penn State Lehigh Valley in Center Valley, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

CUNY City College is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (15,544 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • CUNY City College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Penn State Lehigh Valley is in Center Valley, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • CUNY City College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Lehigh Valley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY City College 15:1; Penn State Lehigh Valley 14:1.

City College of New York vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City College of New York 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 CUNY City College than Penn State Lehigh Valley ($4,664 vs. $19,066).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Lehigh Valley are 18.9% lower than at CUNY City College ($15,274 vs. $18,840).
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley is 107.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $7,868 more per year; $15,208.00 vs. $7,340.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 66.1% higher at Penn State Lehigh Valley than at CUNY City College (about $10,102 more per year; $25,392.00 vs. $15,290.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY City College than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (88% vs. 80%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by CUNY City College students is 7.7% larger than aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students ($9,763 vs. $9,065).

City College of New York vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, City College of New York 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 City College of New York.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at CUNY City College (1250) is 20 points higher than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (1230).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: CUNY City College 1070/1430; Penn State Lehigh Valley 1130/1320.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: City College of New York - Test optional; Penn State Lehigh Valley - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: City College of New York Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Penn State Lehigh Valley students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at City College of New York (3.2).
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than City College of New York (60%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at City College of New York vs. 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

City College of New York vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for City College of New York 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).

  • Penn State Lehigh Valley's six-year graduation rate (47%) is higher than CUNY City College's (40%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Lehigh Valley earn a median of about $5,500 more per year than City College of New York graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $49,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY City College graduates have a $15,418 lower median loan debt than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($11,400 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, City College of New York graduates have an estimated $160 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($117 vs. $277).
  • More Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of New York students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 52%)

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.