True College Verdict
A

Lehigh University

Bethlehem, PA · 5,898 undergraduates · 21% receive Pell Grants · admits 26%
Private nonprofitMainly bachelor's degrees

A strong choice. It ranks 74 of 1,755 four-year colleges on student outcomes, with an overall score of 88.5 out of 100.

Is it affordable?
No
Average net price $25,272 a year after grants. Typical for similar colleges: $19,899.
Will most students finish?
Yes
91% graduate within 8 years. Typical for similar colleges: 59%.
Is it worth the price?
Likely
Graduates owe a typical $21,371 against earnings of $116,342, a ratio of 0.18. Under 0.4 is comfortable; over 0.7 is heavy.

These three answers are rules of thumb from the numbers below, not advice for any one student or major.

What do students really think?

You have seen the federal numbers for Lehigh University. Now hear from people who went there, or add your own experience. Anonymous, no account.

Would you choose it again? That is the first question the rating form asks.

Why it is good

  • 91% of students graduate, better than 96% of four-year colleges.
  • It beats expectations: it graduates 22 points more students than is typical for a college enrolling the same share of low-income students (91% against an expected 68%; the estimate is rough, with a typical error of about 16 points).
  • Students stay: 94% of first-year students return for a second year, better than 91% of four-year colleges.
  • Strong pay: typical earnings ten years after starting are $116,342, higher than 99% of four-year colleges.
  • Earnings beat expectations by about $44,790 a year for a college with its student mix (the estimate is rough, with a typical error of about $15,000).
  • Debt is manageable: graduates owe a typical $21,371 in federal loans against earnings of $116,342.

Why it is bad

  • Expensive: the average student pays about $25,272 a year after grants, more than at 72% of four-year colleges.

The numbers

What these figures measure

Graduation rate: share of all students, full-time or part-time, who finish within 8 years. Return for year 2: share of first-time, full-time students who come back for a second year. Earnings: median pay about 10 years after starting, for students who received federal aid. Debt: median federal loan debt among those who finish. Net price: average yearly cost after grants and scholarships. All from the U.S. Education Department College Scorecard, institution file dated November 2, 2026.

Graduation rate
91%
Better than 96% of similar colleges. Typical: 59%
Return for year 2
94%
Better than 91% of similar colleges. Typical: 77%
Earnings after 10 years
$116,342
Better than 99% of similar colleges. Typical: $58,912
Debt at graduation
$21,371
Better than 93% of similar colleges. Typical: $21,609
Net price per year
$25,272
Better than 28% of similar colleges. Typical: $19,899
Published tuition
$67,920
Before any aid

Programs and early earnings

Bachelor's degrees: largest programs

FieldGraduates a yearEarnings, 2 yrs afterDebt
Finance and Financial Management Services193$74,142$21,300
Computer Science147$78,552$22,230
Mechanical Engineering72$69,710$21,906
Psychology, General63$42,682$19,620
Marketing60$55,151$23,250
Biology, General55$38,289$21,794
Accounting and Related Services53$70,324$19,000
Computer and Information Sciences, General48$71,351$19,500
Business/Managerial Economics47$73,446$20,500
Civil Engineering45$67,660$25,000
Chemical Engineering42$74,200$21,500
Industrial Engineering40$75,623$19,000

Certificates and diplomas: largest programs

FieldGraduates a yearEarnings, 2 yrs afterDebt
Data Analytics23n/an/a
International Business5n/an/a

Earnings are the median pay two years after completing, for graduates who were working and not enrolled again. The federal government hides figures for small programs, shown as n/a. Fields are broad groups, so a college may offer several majors inside one.

Students and reviews

Numbers cannot tell you about teaching, dorms or campus life. Read and write anonymous student reviews for Lehigh University, or ask and answer questions about it. Other sources:

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The grade reflects outcomes for the average student compared with other four-year colleges. Individual majors can be much better or worse.