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Overall Score: 81.1

Lehigh University

Bethlehem, PA http://www.lehigh.edu/
Lehigh is a private research university with especially strong business and engineering programs. The university spreads across more than 1,600 acres in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and gives students easy access to Philadelphia and New York City. Lehigh students can take their pick of over 100 degree programs, and most say they feel secure that they'll get jobs in their fields after graduation. With students going on to earn median salaries that top $95,000, they can also feel sure those jobs will pay well. More than 1,000 of Lehigh's nearly 7,000 students participate in research opportunities. Feeling adrift? Don't worry: Resident advisors are called Gryphons after the mythological beast tasked with guarding gold – which, at Lehigh, refers to their fellow students. Greek life plays a prominent role on campus, and athletics, too, are a significant part of the university's culture. Lehigh's Division I football team has a longstanding rivalry with its counterpart at nearby Lafayette College. Every year, Spirit Week brings the school together for a series of events, including "bed races" in which student "jockeys" race in beds pushed by teammates. Keep an eye out for Clutch, the school's emerald-eyed mountain hawk mascot.

Costs

Est. full price 2022-2023
$74,100
% of students who get any grants
52%
Est. price for students who receive aid
$30,700
Average price for low-income students
$15,560

Admissions

Acceptance rate
32%
Median SAT/ACT score
1370/31
SAT/ACT required?
No
Undergraduate enrollment
5,160

Financial Aid

% of students with need who get grants
100%
% of need met
98%
% of students who get merit grants
3%
Average merit grant
$5,360

Student Success

Graduation rate
88%
Average time to a degree
4.1 years
Median student debt
$23,000
Early career earnings
$95,030
% earning more than a high school grad
91%

Notes: Students who get merit grants are full-time undergraduates who had no financial need and were awarded grants. Graduation rate measures degree completion within six years for both transfer students and first-time students. Early career earnings are the median earnings for both graduates and non-completers, 10 years after they first enrolled.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, Peterson’s, Money/Witlytic calculations.

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