Lehigh University

www.lehigh.edu

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2023 Undergraduate Tuition

$61,180

3.75% growth from 2022

2023 Average Net Price

$33,289

After Financial Aid

2020 Default Rate

on Student Loans

2023 Acceptance Rate

29.3%

18,415 Applicants

2023 Enrolled Students

7,590

89.4% Full-Time

2023 Graduation Rate

89.2%

1,100 Graduates

About

Lehigh University is a higher education institution located in Northampton County, PA. In 2023, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at Lehigh University were General Finance (193 degrees awarded), Computer Science (147 degrees), and Mechanical Engineering (72 degrees).

In 2023, 2,096 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Lehigh University. 47.8% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 52.2% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (1,237 degrees), 6.76 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (183 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Lehigh University is $61,180, which is $30,177 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,004).

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at Lehigh University was 0%, corresponding to 0 out of the 785 total borrowers.

Photo by Greg Palmer

Doctoral Universities: Higher Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

In 2023, the median undergraduate tuition at Lehigh University is $61,180, which is $30,177 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,004).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $33,289.

In 2023, 54% of undergraduate students attending Lehigh University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 38% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$61,180

2023 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2023, the cost of tuition at Lehigh University was $61,180. The cost of tuition at Lehigh University is $30,177 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,004).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Lehigh University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$33,289

2023 Value

9.31%

1 Year Growth

In 2023 Lehigh University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $33,289. Between 2022 and 2023, the average net price of Lehigh University grew by 9.31%.

This chart compares the average net price of Lehigh University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$15,890

Room and Board

$1,000

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Lehigh University was of $15,890 in 2023. The cost of room and board increased by 3.65% between 2022 and 2023.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,000. The cost of books and supplies did not change during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Lehigh University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

54%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

38%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

54% of undergraduate students at Lehigh University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2023. This represents a decline of 1.82% with respect to 2022, when 55% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Lehigh University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

2020 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at Lehigh University was 0%, which represents 0 out of the 785 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

Lehigh University received 18,415 undergraduate applications in 2023, which represents a 21.4% annual growth. Out of those 18,415 applicants, 5,389 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 29.3% acceptance rate.

There were 7,590 students enrolled at Lehigh University in 2023. 33% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Lehigh University has an overall enrollment yield of 28.4%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

29.3%

Acceptance Rate in 2023

5,389

Accepted Out of 18,415

In 2023, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Lehigh University was 29.3% (5,389 admissions from 18,415 applications). This is lower than the acceptance rate of 2022, which was 37%. Between 2022 and 2023, the number of applicants grew by 21.4%, while admissions declined by 3.89%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Lehigh University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

33%

Submission Percentage (2023)

500

Scores Submitted (2023)

33% of enrolled first-time students at Lehigh University in 2023 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Lehigh University had a total enrollment of 7,590 students in 2023. The full-time enrollment at Lehigh University is 6,785 students and the part-time enrollment is 805. This means that 89.4% of students enrolled at Lehigh University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Lehigh University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 57% White, 9.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 4.61% Black or African American, 3.39% Two or More Races, 0.0922% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0264% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Lehigh University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Male (31.4%), followed by White Female (27.8%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (5.3%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (19.2%), followed by White Male (18.4%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (2.52%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

89.4%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Lehigh University in 2023, both undergraduate and graduate, is 7,590 students. The full-time enrollment at Lehigh University is 6,785 and the part-time enrollment is 805. This means that 89.4% of students enrolled at Lehigh University are enrolled full-time compared with 77.9% at similar Doctoral Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Lehigh University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

93%

2023 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. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Lehigh University was 93%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (84%), Lehigh University had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Lehigh University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2023)

White
4,325 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
736 enrolled students
Asian
698 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Lehigh University is 57% White, 9.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 4.61% Black or African American, 3.39% Two or More Races, 0.0922% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0264% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 46.5% White, 15.9% Hispanic or Latino, and 9.78% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 179 students (2.36%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2023, 94 fewer women than men received degrees from Lehigh University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Lehigh University is white (1,237 degrees awarded). There were 6.76 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (183 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Lehigh University is General Finance (193 degrees awarded), followed by Computer Science (147 degrees) and Mechanical Engineering (72 degrees).

In 2023, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Lehigh University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Engineering (477 degrees awarded), Physical Sciences (54 degrees), and Interdisciplinary Studies (111 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Software developers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Lehigh University are Software developers (1,085,232 people), Other managers (495,971 people), Miscellaneous engineers, including nuclear engineers (412,285 people), Civil engineers (312,643 people), and Mechanical engineers (225,122 people).

The most specialized majors at Lehigh University in 2023 are Engineering (477 degrees awarded), Physical Sciences (54 degrees), Interdisciplinary Studies (111 degrees), Architecture and Related Services (16 degrees), and Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (228 degrees) (as of 2023).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Podiatrists

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Lehigh University are Podiatrists, Surgeons, Physicians, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, and Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

The most specialized majors at Lehigh University are Engineering (477 degrees awarded), Physical Sciences (54 degrees), Interdisciplinary Studies (111 degrees), Architecture and Related Services (16 degrees), and Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (228 degrees) (as of 2023).

Common Industries by Major

Computer Systems Design

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Lehigh University are Computer Systems Design (1,111,828 people), Architectural, engineering & related services (508,764 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (469,675 people), Elementary & secondary schools (367,268 people), and Construction (349,612 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Lehigh University.

Most Common (2023)

General Finance
193 degrees awarded
Computer Science
147 degrees awarded
Mechanical Engineering
72 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Lehigh University was General Finance with 193 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at Lehigh University according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

1,095

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2023

1,001

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2023

In 2023, 1,095 degrees were awarded to men at Lehigh University, which is 1.09 times more than the number of degrees awarded to females (1,001).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Lehigh University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2023, 142 degrees were awarded to men at Lehigh University in General Finance, which is 2.45 times more than the 58 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2023, 58 degrees were awarded to men at Lehigh University in General Psychology, which is 6.44 times more than the 9 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

78%

100% Completion Time

87%

150% Completion Time

In 2023, 78% of students graduating from Lehigh University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 87% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 88% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

American Indian or Alaska Native Male

Highest Graduation Rate (100%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2023 at Lehigh University is Male and American Indian or Alaska Native (100% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Non-resident Alien Male students have the highest graduation rate (65.7%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 5% of graduates (55 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2023)

White
1,237 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
183 degrees awarded
Asian
154 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Lehigh University is white (1,237 degrees awarded). There were 6.76 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (183 degrees).

2.96% of degree recipients (62 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2023)

White Male
635 degrees awarded
White Female
602 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Female
94 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Lehigh University is white male (635 degrees awarded). There were 1.05 times more white male recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (602 degrees).

Operations

Lehigh University has an endowment valued at nearly $1.74B, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 154M (8.86%) compared to the 4.37% average return (19M on 434M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2023, Lehigh University had a total salary expenditure of 495M. Lehigh University employs 208 Professors, 169 Associate professors and 148 Assistant professors. Most academics at Lehigh University are Male Professor (156), Male Associate professor (92), and Female Associate professor (77).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Lehigh University are: Business and Financial Operations, with 254 employees, Computer, Engineering, and Science, with 228 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 217 employees.

Endowment

$1.74B

2023 Endowment

3.78%

growth from 2022

Lehigh University has an endowment valued at about $1.74B, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year. The endowment of Lehigh University grew 3.78% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $1.31B higher than than the median endowment of Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Lehigh University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Doctoral Universities: Higher Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

Salary Expenditure

$204M

2023 Salaries

7.35%

growth from 2022

In 2023, Lehigh University paid a median of $204M in salaries, which represents 41.3% of their overall expenditure ($495M) and a 7.35% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 2.57% growth between 2021 and 2022, and a 2.29% growth between 2020 and 2021.

The median for similar Doctoral Universities is 246M (41.5% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$78.1M

Instructional Salaries

577

Number of Employees

In 2023, Lehigh University paid a total of $78.1M to 577 employees working as instructors, which represents 38.2% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $6.13M (2.35%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

Professor

Most Common Instructor

208 Employees

Business and Financial Operations

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

254 Employees

In 2023, the most common positions for instructional staff at Lehigh University were Professor with 208 employees, Associate professor with 169 employees, and Assistant professor with 148 employees.

In 2023, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Lehigh University were Business and Financial Operations with 254 employees, Computer, Engineering, and Science with 228 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 217 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2023)

Male Professor
Male Associate professor
Female Associate professor

In 2023, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Lehigh University was Male Professor with 156 employees, Male Associate professor with 92 employees, and Female Associate professor with 77 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at Lehigh University.

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