B+
Very Good
Score: 72/100
Overall (traditional)
A+
Outcome Rating
96/100 · earnings-weighted

Lehigh University

4-Year Private Non-Profit
📍 Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015
Lehigh University campus, Bethlehem, PA
Lehigh University campus, Bethlehem, PA. Photo: Matt Casey, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Outcomes
A+
92/100
Affordability
F
19/100
Resources
B+
81/100
Experience
A+
94/100
Prestige
B+
76/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

7,590
Total Enrollment
89%
Graduation Rate
93%
Retention Rate
10.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
29%
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Avg Net Price

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Lehigh University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$105,584
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$88,810
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$21,960
Median debt at graduation
87.9%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
1,440
Average SAT
32
Median ACT
17.7%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 21% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 99th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (PA wage index 0.97). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Lehigh University

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Computer Science$88,587$141,691+32%#41 of 349#32$23,854
Finance and Financial Management Services$76,720$127,210+53%#14 of 452#13$23,250
Accounting and Related Services$77,026$125,874+65%#5 of 796#2$23,179
Industrial Engineering$81,142$121,498+23%#3 of 94#4$23,834
Computer and Information Sciences$83,356$116,999+27%#59 of 459#50$24,019
Computer Engineering$82,209$116,214+7%#48 of 189#44$24,625
Business/Managerial Economics$81,796$113,630+46%#7 of 84#5$23,240
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$79,119$108,503+8%#35 of 258#40$22,754
Business/Commerce—$107,079+57%#9 of 271#7—
Biomedical/Medical Engineering$72,440$106,260+14%#14 of 118#9$26,000
Chemical Engineering$82,435$101,720+4%#43 of 158#52$27,000
Business Administration, Management and Operations$69,289$98,481+44%#32 of 1176#24$20,500
Marketing$55,236$98,320+42%#9 of 516#8$20,534
Materials Engineering$74,971$97,904+7%#6 of 34#4$26,324
Mechanical Engineering$75,479$96,618+5%#67 of 318#83$24,950
Civil Engineering$73,545$91,856+6%#41 of 233#35$27,000
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies$74,734$91,697+81%#1 of 63#1$24,960
Political Science and Government$53,632$90,302+43%#17 of 565#16$21,150
Journalism$45,256$81,935+46%#1 of 187#1$19,500
International Relations and National Security Studies$36,147$79,569+19%#16 of 118#16$21,250
Biology$45,695$75,611+32%#49 of 841#27$23,128
Psychology$40,942$74,939+48%#9 of 1027#7$21,160
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences—$72,978+21%#13 of 138#15$19,707
English Language and Literature—$71,474+47%#9 of 576#5$19,707

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The Lehigh University Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $296,372
  • Avg rent near campus: $1,691/mo — vs ~$1,076/mo campus room rate
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 18101 (6.0% cap, Allentown)

Get the free 1-page report: rent-vs-dorm math, the 3 best nearby ZIPs by yield, and the “kiddie condo” strategy parents use.

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🏆 Where Lehigh University Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

#9
Business/Managerial Economics
of 51 schools
#9
Public Health Education and Promotion
of 44 schools
#11
Business Analytics
of 62 schools
#13
Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management
of 100 schools
#16
Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
of 100 schools
#24
Industrial Engineering
of 75 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $61,180 $61,180
Room $9,680
Board $6,790
Total Cost (On-Campus) $81,150 $81,150

Financial Aid

71%
Receive Any Aid
18%
Receive Pell Grants
41%
Take Out Loans
N/A
Avg Net Price

Student Demographics

7,590
Total Students
48%
Women
98%
Traditional Age (18-24)

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 57%
Hispanic 10%
Black 5%
Asian 9%
Two or More 3%
Non-Resident 14%

🏠 Living Arrangements

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 88%
Hybrid (Some Online) 6%
Fully Online 6%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 98%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Lehigh University?
Lehigh University has an acceptance rate of 29%. This makes it a moderately selective institution with competitive admission standards.
How much does it cost to attend Lehigh University?
Tuition at Lehigh University is $61,180 for in-state students and $61,180 for out-of-state students .
What is the graduation rate at Lehigh University?
The graduation rate at Lehigh University is 89%. This is considered an excellent graduation rate, indicating strong student success and support systems.
Is Lehigh University a good school?
Lehigh University has a Repit College Score of 72/100 (Grade: B+). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (A+): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (F): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (B+): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (A+): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (B+): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Lehigh University?
Lehigh University has a total enrollment of 7,590 students. Most students (98%) are traditional college-age (18-24).

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Lehigh University — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to Lehigh University

Compare with other 4-Year private non-profit institutions of similar size.

B+
Bucknell University
Lewisburg, PA · 3,892 students
B+
Lafayette College
Easton, PA · 2,764 students
B+
Villanova University
Villanova, PA · 10,111 students
A
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA · 15,596 students
B
Gettysburg College
Gettysburg, PA · 2,895 students
B
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA · 21,703 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology