AU vs. Lehigh

Deciding between American University and Lehigh University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

American University
Lehigh University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Washington, DC
  • Lehigh Bethlehem, PA
  • Setting
  • AU Large City
  • Lehigh Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 12,321
  • Lehigh 7,692
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • Lehigh Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #94
  • Lehigh #53
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU United Methodist
  • Lehigh -
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • Lehigh Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • Lehigh

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $58,771
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $58,771
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Room & Board
  • AU $17,982
  • Lehigh $17,220
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $39,676
  • Lehigh $34,154
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $36,349
  • Lehigh $46,731
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 67%
  • Lehigh 65%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 17,173
  • Lehigh 20,396
  • Admitted
  • AU 10,640
  • Lehigh 5,289
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 62%
  • Lehigh 25.9%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 15.6%
  • Lehigh 28.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1370
  • Lehigh 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 30
  • Lehigh 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.7
  • Lehigh 3.81
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU A-
  • Lehigh A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Very High
  • Lehigh Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • Lehigh High
  • ACT Range
  • AU 29/32
  • Lehigh 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • AU 1280/1460
  • Lehigh 1370/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • Lehigh Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AU Jan 15, 2027
  • Lehigh Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 10:1
  • Lehigh 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • Lehigh
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 77%
  • Lehigh 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $64,800
  • Lehigh $89,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 80%
  • Lehigh 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $24,250
  • Lehigh $24,256
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $250
  • Lehigh $250

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 37%
  • Lehigh 52%
  • % Women
  • AU 63%
  • Lehigh 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU High
  • Lehigh Medium
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • Lehigh No
  • % White
  • AU 58%
  • Lehigh 66%
  • % Asian
  • AU 7%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Black
  • AU 7%
  • Lehigh 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 12%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Native American
  • AU 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 5%
  • Lehigh 3%
  • % International
  • AU 7%
  • Lehigh 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 4%
  • Lehigh 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 3%
  • Lehigh 25%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 94%
  • Lehigh 69%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • AU Yes
  • Lehigh Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • AU No
  • Lehigh No
  • Meal Plan
  • AU Yes
  • Lehigh Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • AU Yes
  • Lehigh No
  • Daycare Facility
  • AU Yes
  • Lehigh Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare American University in Washington, DC with Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

American University is larger than Lehigh based on total student enrollment (12,321 students vs. 7,692 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • American University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Lehigh University is in Bethlehem, PA (Small City setting).
  • American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Lehigh University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: American University 10:1; Lehigh University 10:1.

AU vs. Lehigh Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Lehigh? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Lehigh University than AU ($34,154 vs. $39,676).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lehigh University are 4.2% lower than at American University ($17,220 vs. $17,982).
  • Lehigh University is 10.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than AU (about $6,209 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $58,771.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.6% higher at Lehigh than at American University (about $6,209 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $58,771.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at American University than at Lehigh University (67% vs. 65%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lehigh University students is 28.6% larger than aid received by American University students ($46,731 vs. $36,349).

AU vs. Lehigh Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or Lehigh? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Lehigh and AU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lehigh University (1440) is 70 points higher than at AU (1370).
  • Incoming Lehigh students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at AU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 1280/1460; Lehigh University 1370/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 29/32; Lehigh University 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; Lehigh - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027; Lehigh Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Lehigh students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at AU (3.7).
  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (62%) than Lehigh (25.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 28.4% at Lehigh.

AU vs. Lehigh Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and Lehigh? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Lehigh University's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than American University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Lehigh University earn a median of about $24,400 more per year than AU graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,200 vs. $64,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, American University graduates have a $6 lower median loan debt than Lehigh graduates ($24,250 vs. $24,256).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Lehigh University and AU graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($250 vs. $250).
  • More Lehigh graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 80%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.