Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Lehigh University is a private national university located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Lehigh University is selective in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Lehigh University is in the top 10% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $95,033 10 years after enrolling, 4th in Pennsylvania, and in the top 5% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Lehigh University bachelor students earn 25% more than the national average. Lehigh University is ranked 4th in Pennsylvania.
Lehigh University’s median net annual cost of $34,384 and average years to graduate of 4.2 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Lehigh University sorted by number of graduates - Finance, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Accounting, Marketing, Industrial Engineering - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$34,384
Average years to graduate
4.2
Managerial Econ.
Rank: #12
Economic score: 1.64
Chemical Engineering
Rank: #102
Economic score: 2.15
Computer science
Rank: #157
Economic score: 2.15
Materials Engineering
Rank: #31
Economic score: 2.88
Civil Engineering
Rank: #182
Economic score: 3.06
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
Rank: #80
Economic score: 3.45
Psychology
Rank: #48
Economic score: 3.6
International Relations
Rank: #78
Economic score: 8.97
Biology
Rank: #440
Economic score: 10.5
Journalism
Rank: #136
Economic score: 18.9
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at Lehigh University - Educ. Administration, Business Administration, Mechanical Engineering, Student Counseling, Engineering Fields, Education - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Civil Engineering
Rank: #48
Economic score: 0.44
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.2 years. 90% of all students graduate within 8 years. The graduation rate at Lehigh University is 24% higher than the state average, and 23% above the average for all national universities in the country.
At Lehigh University, Pell Grant recipients represent 18% of the measured graduating class, 17% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Lehigh University graduates within 4.2 years.
Lehigh University is in the bottom 50% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Lehigh University’s economic mobility score of 17.04 is calculated by adjusting the 0.68 economic score of lower-income students by the 18% pell grant recipients within the student body. Lehigh University’s EMS of 17.04 ranks in the top 50% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 50%
The average Title IV recipient at Lehigh University pays $34,384 a year, $37,681 less than the $72,065 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $34,384
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Lehigh University, 54% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $34,384 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 43% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $10,074. This is 11% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$4,954
Pell grants
$5,243
State grants
$3,679
Institutional grants
$37,972
Lehigh University's selective admissions are indicated by their 46% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 14,107 applicants, of which 6,485 were admitted and 1,519 enrolled. Lehigh University doesn't have a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed after a hard admissions deadline.
Full time
100%
83%
Female
45%
59%
First time
95%
59%
In-state
25%
68%
1st generation
17%
35%
White
61%
52%
Black
5%
14%
Hispanic
10%
15%
Asian
8%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
16%
12%