F&M vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley

Comparable Facts

Compare Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA with Penn State Lehigh Valley in Center Valley, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Franklin and Marshall College is larger than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (1,808 students vs. 867 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Franklin and Marshall College is located in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting); Penn State Lehigh Valley is in Center Valley, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Franklin and Marshall College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Lehigh Valley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Franklin and Marshall College 9:1; Penn State Lehigh Valley 14:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Lehigh Valley are 5.6% lower than at Franklin and Marshall College ($15,274 vs. $16,188).
• Out-of-state tuition is 178.8% higher at F&M than at Penn State Lehigh Valley (about $45,402 more per year; $70,794 vs. $25,392).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Franklin and Marshall College as at Penn State Lehigh Valley (80% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Franklin and Marshall College students is 362.2% larger than aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students ($41,901 vs. $9,065).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both F&M and Penn State Lehigh Valley.
• Typical fall application deadline: F&M Jan 15, 2027.
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at F&M vs. 14% at Penn State Lehigh Valley.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, Franklin and Marshall College graduates have a $4,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($22,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, F&M graduates have an estimated $50 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates ($227 vs. $277).
• More F&M graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Lehigh Valley students, three years after graduation (88% vs. 69%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.