Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley
Center Valley, Pennsylvania · Public · 97.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 63/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Penn State Lehigh Valley is one of Penn State University's commonwealth campuses, located in Center Valley, Pennsylvania, near Allentown. It enrolls about 859 undergraduates and offers in-state tuition of $15,208, with an average net price of $18,220. The campus earns a Fair Value ROI score of 63, with standout submetrics: an earnings premium of 39% and a 7.5-year payback period. Six-year median earnings of $43,600 and ten-year earnings of $63,435 are solid for a regional campus. However, the completion rate of 17.8% is critically low - an outlier that reflects this campus's high stop-out and transfer rate to University Park. Many students use Lehigh Valley as an access point to the Penn State brand before transferring, which inflates the non-completion figure without necessarily indicating academic failure. The 35% Pell Grant rate confirms a significant working and first-generation student population.
The data raises concerns about Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- 6-year graduation rate17.8% - Well below the 64% national average (NCES, 2022). Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $15,208/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $25,392/yr |
| Average net price | $18,220/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $72,880 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $63,435 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $43,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 7.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 17.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 859 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $15,208/year ($25,392/year out-of-state). Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $18,220/year, or roughly $72,880 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $12,422/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $24,539/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $25,000 in federal loans, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $63,435 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.57, within the range advisors call workable but worth keeping an eye on.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $12,422 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $13,319 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $16,438 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,611 |
| $110,001+ | $24,539 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $12,422 net - PSLV's most accessible tier. With a 7.5-year payback period and $43,600 in six-year median earnings, low-income students who use PSLV as an on-ramp to Penn State's system and graduate face a positive ROI. The completion rate caveat applies: students who stop out carry debt without the Penn State credential.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001 - $75,000 band pays $13,319 - $16,438. At these costs, PSLV represents solid Penn State system access at lower price than University Park. Middle-income families should clarify whether their student plans to transfer or complete at the campus level, as that decision shapes both the cost and credential outcome.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Above $75,000, families pay $23,611 - $24,539 - approaching University Park's cost in some brackets. At those price levels, families should consider whether the reduced campus experience at PSLV justifies choosing it over University Park or a comparable regional institution.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management | $65,292 | C |
| Information Science | $91,671 | B |
| Psychology | $49,543 | D |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $73,308 | B |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $51,635 | D |
| Business/Corporate Communications | $55,840 | D |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $75,396 | C+ |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | $81,617 | D |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $120,729 | B+ |
| Finance and Financial Management | $96,714 | B |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer and Information Sciences
CIS graduates only 2 students with year-one earnings of $84,050 and $120,729 at four years - the highest four-year figure at PSLV. A B+ grade and 0.31 debt-to-earnings ratio are strong. The very small cohort size limits statistical confidence, but the earnings trajectory aligns with Penn State CIS outcomes at other campuses.
Information Science
Information Science graduates 20 students with year-one earnings of $66,209 and $91,671 at four years. A B grade and 0.39 debt-to-earnings ratio make this program one of PSLV's more reliable ROI tracks. The Lehigh Valley tech corridor - with corporate presence from logistics, health care, and financial services - provides employer access for information management graduates.
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
Management Sciences graduates 11 students with year-one earnings of $58,140 and $73,308 at four years. A B grade and 0.45 debt-to-earnings ratio are solid for a regional campus. Penn State's Smeal College of Business brand provides recognition that helps PSLV business graduates compete in the Lehigh Valley job market.
Business Administration and Management
Business Administration is PSLV's largest program at 29 graduates with year-one earnings of $45,110 and $65,292 at four years. A C grade and 0.60 debt-to-earnings ratio reflect middling performance. Students in this program who transfer to University Park's Smeal College before graduation may improve their outcomes significantly.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 76.0% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 79.3% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 74.8% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 79.7% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 97.4% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 550-660 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 580-660 |
| Enrollment | 859 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 35.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,550 |
PSLV admits 97.4% of applicants - nearly open access. Middle 50% SAT is 550 - 660 math and 580 - 660 reading; no ACT data is reported. The Penn State brand provides inherent name-recognition value, and students who transfer to University Park access the full flagship resources. Merit-based scholarships are available through the Penn State system.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
PSLV is listed alongside Ohio University Chillicothe and Miami University Middletown - other regional branch campuses of major state universities. The Penn State brand gives PSLV a credential premium over those peers. However, the 17.8% completion rate at the campus level is the most dramatic in any peer comparison and requires the transfer-pipeline context to interpret correctly.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley (this school) | 63 | $18,220 | $63,435 |
| Valley City State University | 67 | $11,890 | $52,725 |
| Miami University-Middletown | 63 | $10,809 | $55,076 |
| Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus | 60 | $5,755 | $52,581 |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | 51 | $18,134 | $56,148 |
| Cheyney University of Pennsylvania | 11 | $14,265 | $37,837 |
Who Thrives Here
Penn State Lehigh Valley is best suited to students who want a Penn State affiliation at lower initial cost and are either planning to transfer to University Park after meeting admissions criteria or intend to complete a degree at the campus level. Students who need a commuter-friendly, lower-cost entry point to the Penn State system will find value here. The 17.8% completion rate at this campus is largely a transfer artifact, not an academic failure signal, but students who need a full residential campus experience should weigh alternatives.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $18,220 a year after aid ($72,880 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $63,435 a decade out, the cost takes about 7.5 years to earn back. That's roughly average - not a bargain, not a mistake.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates. What to keep an eye on: its 17.8% graduation rate.
Median debt of $25,000 against $63,435 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley: Common Questions
Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 63/100 on our ROI scale. At $18,220 a year after aid ($72,880 over four years) against $63,435 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 7.5 years to earn back - roughly average.
How much does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley cost after financial aid?
The average net price - what students actually pay after grants and scholarships - is about $18,220 a year, or roughly $72,880 over four years. That is the number to plan around, not the sticker price. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $63,435 ten years after enrolling, roughly $21,635 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 7.5 years for Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley. Most four-year schools we track land between 4 and 10 years.
How much debt do Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates take on?
Median debt at graduation is about $25,000, against $63,435 in typical earnings a decade out. That is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley?
The six-year graduation rate is 17.8%, below the 64% national average (NCES, 2022) - and not finishing is the fastest route to a poor return. Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.