Amherst vs. Lehigh

Comparable Facts

Compare Amherst College in Amherst, MA with Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Lehigh University is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (7,692 students vs. 1,914 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Lehigh University is in Bethlehem, PA (Small City setting).
• Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Lehigh University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; Lehigh University 10:1.

Amherst vs. Lehigh Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Amherst 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 Amherst College than Lehigh ($19,049 vs. $34,154).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lehigh University are 6.4% lower than at Amherst College ($17,220 vs. $18,390).
• Amherst College is 8.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lehigh (about $5,500 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $64,980.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.5% higher at Amherst than at Lehigh University (about $5,500 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $64,980.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lehigh University than at Amherst College (65% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 46.8% larger than aid received by Lehigh University students ($68,591 vs. $46,731).

Amherst vs. Lehigh Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Amherst 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 Amherst.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Amherst College (1540) is 100 points higher than at Lehigh (1440).
• Incoming Amherst students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at Lehigh).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 1490/1580; Lehigh University 1370/1500.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 33/35; Lehigh University 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Amherst - Test optional; Lehigh - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; Lehigh Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Amherst students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Lehigh (3.81).
• Lehigh has a higher acceptance rate (25.9%) than Amherst (9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 28.4% at Lehigh.

Amherst vs. Lehigh Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Amherst 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).

• Amherst College's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Lehigh University's (87%).
• Graduates from Lehigh University earn a median of about $7,200 more per year than Amherst graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,200 vs. $82,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $11,281 lower median loan debt than Lehigh graduates ($12,975 vs. $24,256).
• Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $116 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lehigh graduates ($134 vs. $250).
• More Lehigh graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Amherst students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 83%)

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.