Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA 18015
About Lehigh University
Lehigh University is a private research university in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, serving roughly 5,898 students. Admission is selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 25.93% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $105,584 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Lehigh University charges about 2.2× the national private non-profit median tuition ($64,980).
- Versus the Pennsylvania median, sticker tuition is about 3.3×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 87.91%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $105,584.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Lehigh University is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 615% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Finding
Lehigh University awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 96 distinct degree programs at this campus.
Interpretation: Institutional averages blend very different fields; program-level completions and earnings matter more than the campus mean alone.
Limitation: Completions counts are not enrollment demand and do not measure program quality.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lehigh University | $64,980 | $36,931 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| Pennsylvania (state median) | $19,450 | $17,754 | 181 |
| Town (locale median) | $9,600 | $14,971 | 1,517 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
Average net price is 43% below published tuition at Lehigh University
Key findings
- Lehigh University's average net price ($36,931) is 43% below published tuition ($64,980).
- Lehigh University charges about 2.2× the national private non-profit median tuition ($64,980).
- Versus the Pennsylvania median, sticker tuition is about 3.3×.
Lehigh University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $64,980
Finding Lehigh University charges about 2.2× the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $64,980. That is about 2.2× the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the Pennsylvania median ($19,450), sticker tuition is about 3.3×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 5.5×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Lehigh University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Lehigh University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Lehigh University is $36,931.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $36,931 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $19,178 above the Pennsylvania median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $21,960 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway Lehigh University’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 43% lower after grants and scholarships.
Lehigh University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Lehigh University—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$64,980
Avg. net price
$36,931
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $16,917 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $17,140 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $18,722 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $22,184 |
| $110,001+ | $48,751 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $259,920. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Lehigh University is known for
Top program completions
- Finance, General221
- Computer Science169
- Mechanical Engineering126
- Business Analytics82
- Psychology, General78
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Highly selective — fewer than 3 in 10 applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 28% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1440
- Midpoint ACT: 32
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Lehigh University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Lehigh University is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Lehigh University.
Campus
Location
Bethlehem, PA
City / state
- ZIP
- 18015
- NCES locale
- Town
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is about 2.5× the median for Town campuses ($14,971 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Mid East
- Carnegie
- Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity
Size
Enrollment
5,898
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 6,147
- Graduate
- 1,781
- Full-time share
- 99%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$21,960
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 17.71%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Lehigh University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Lehigh University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Lehigh University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $43,520 | $43,520 | $29,418 |
| 2014 | $44,890 | $44,890 | $31,267 |
| 2015 | $46,230 | $46,230 | $33,300 |
| 2016 | $48,320 | $48,320 | $32,501 |
| 2017 | $50,740 | $50,740 | $34,212 |
| 2018 | $52,930 | $52,930 | $30,832 |
| 2019 | $55,240 | $55,240 | $29,301 |
| 2020 | $55,260 | $55,260 | $34,384 |
| 2021 | $57,470 | $57,470 | $32,698 |
| 2022 | $59,930 | $59,930 | $32,125 |
| 2023 | $62,180 | $62,180 | $33,549 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution is highly selective, accepting fewer than 3 in 10 applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 1440 (middle 50% not reported)
Midpoint 32 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.85
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Lehigh University reported total enrollment of about 5,898 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 52% male and 48% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (59.7%), Hispanic or Latino (11.1%), and Asian (10.8%). About 17.71% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 16.9% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
98.6% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Lehigh University in 2024 is 5,898 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 6,147 students. Graduate enrollment is about 1,781 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
93.7%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
79.67% 100% Completion Time
87.91% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 79.67% of students graduating from Lehigh University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Finance, General: 75% male / 25% female
- Computer Science: 73% male / 27% female
- Mechanical Engineering: 86% male / 14% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Lehigh University graduates earn a median of $105,584 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Lehigh University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $105,584. Median federal loan debt: $21,960. Average net price used in cost models: $36,931.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Lehigh University graduates report median earnings of $105,584 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Lehigh University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (96 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Lehigh University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Lehigh University graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Lehigh University—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$1.74B
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Pennsylvania median 36× the median ($47.9M)
- Mid East median 41× the median ($42.6M)
- U.S. median 66× the median ($26.4M)
- Pennsylvania median 9.7× the median ($24,897)
- Mid East median 15× the median ($16,427)
- U.S. median 20× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 84.8%
- Pennsylvania median 21.6 pp above median (63.1%)
- Mid East median 27.9 pp above median (56.9%)
- U.S. median 26.8 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $15,219
- Pennsylvania median 1.9× the median ($8,003)
- Mid East median 1.9× the median ($8,119)
- U.S. median 2.0× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $24,840
- Pennsylvania median 2.9× the median ($8,615)
- Mid East median 2.7× the median ($9,164)
- U.S. median 3.4× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Lehigh University at a glance
Lehigh University
Lehigh University is a private non-profit institution in Bethlehem, PA, classified as Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Finance, GeneralComputer ScienceMechanical Engineering
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian59.7%Hispanic or Latino11.1%Asian10.8%
Schools near Lehigh University
Other campuses in Bethlehem, PA when available, plus nearby institutions in Pennsylvania.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade A) within Pennsylvania, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Lehigh University located?
Lehigh University is located in Bethlehem, PA.
What is Lehigh University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Lehigh University is 25.9% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 18,415 applicants and 5,389 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Lehigh University's tuition?
Lehigh University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $64,980 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $36,931 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Lehigh University cost?
Reported tuition is $64,980 and average net price is $36,931 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $17,220 annually.
Why is Lehigh University's net price so much lower than tuition?
At Lehigh University, published tuition is $64,980 while average net price is $36,931—about 43% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains Lehigh University's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($36,931), completion (87.9% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($105,584). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Lehigh University?
Lehigh University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 6,147 students, White (59.7%), Hispanic or Latino (11.1%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Lehigh University?
About 16.9% of students at Lehigh University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Lehigh University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Lehigh University reports midpoint SAT about 1440 and midpoint ACT about 32.
What do graduates of Lehigh University earn?
Median earnings are $88,810 six years after entry and $105,584 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Lehigh University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 87.9% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Lehigh University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $21,960.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.