Hunter vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley

Comparable Facts

Compare CUNY Hunter 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 Hunter College is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (22,538 students vs. 867 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• CUNY Hunter College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Penn State Lehigh Valley is in Center Valley, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• CUNY Hunter 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 Hunter College 14:1; Penn State Lehigh Valley 14:1.

Hunter vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hunter 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 Hunter College than Penn State Lehigh Valley ($4,431 vs. $19,066).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY Hunter College are 22.5% lower than at Penn State Lehigh Valley ($11,832 vs. $15,274).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley is 106% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hunter (about $7,826 more per year; $15,208.00 vs. $7,382.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 65.6% higher at Penn State Lehigh Valley than at CUNY Hunter College (about $10,060 more per year; $25,392.00 vs. $15,332.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Hunter College than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (87% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by CUNY Hunter College students is 7.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students ($9,755 vs. $9,065).

Hunter vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Hunter 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 Hunter.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at CUNY Hunter College (1260) is 30 points higher than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (1230).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: CUNY Hunter College 1100/1420; Penn State Lehigh Valley 1130/1320.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Hunter - Test optional; Penn State Lehigh Valley - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Hunter students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Penn State Lehigh Valley (3.42).
• Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than Hunter (53.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at Hunter vs. 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

Hunter vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hunter 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 Hunter College's (46%).
• Graduates from Penn State Lehigh Valley earn a median of about $6,500 more per year than Hunter graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $48,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Hunter College graduates have a $15,270 lower median loan debt than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($11,548 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Hunter graduates have an estimated $158 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($119 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hunter students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 56%)

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.