Barnard vs. Lehigh

Deciding between Barnard College 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.

Barnard College
Lehigh University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Barnard New York, NY
  • Lehigh Bethlehem, PA
  • Setting
  • Barnard Large City
  • Lehigh Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Barnard 3,487
  • Lehigh 7,692
  • Type
  • Barnard Private 4 Year
  • Lehigh Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Barnard #35
  • Lehigh #53
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Barnard -
  • Lehigh -
  • Status
  • Barnard Non-profit
  • Lehigh Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Barnard
  • Lehigh

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Room & Board
  • Barnard $21,714
  • Lehigh $17,220
  • Average Net Price
  • Barnard $26,407
  • Lehigh $34,154
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Barnard $63,131
  • Lehigh $46,731
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Barnard 33%
  • Lehigh 65%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Barnard 11,836
  • Lehigh 20,396
  • Admitted
  • Barnard 1,046
  • Lehigh 5,289
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Barnard 8.8%
  • Lehigh 25.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Barnard 68.6%
  • Lehigh 28.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Barnard 1520
  • Lehigh 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • Barnard 33
  • Lehigh 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Barnard 3.85
  • Lehigh 3.81
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Barnard A
  • Lehigh A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Barnard Elite
  • Lehigh Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Barnard Extreme
  • Lehigh High
  • ACT Range
  • Barnard 32/34
  • Lehigh 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Barnard 1470/1560
  • Lehigh 1370/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Barnard Test optional
  • Lehigh Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Barnard Jan 4, 2027
  • Lehigh Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Barnard 10:1
  • Lehigh 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Barnard
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • Lehigh
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Barnard 92%
  • Lehigh 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Barnard $66,900
  • Lehigh $89,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Barnard 89%
  • Lehigh 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Barnard $17,847
  • Lehigh $24,256
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Barnard $184
  • Lehigh $250

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Barnard 2%
  • Lehigh 52%
  • % Women
  • Barnard 98%
  • Lehigh 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Barnard High
  • Lehigh Medium
  • HBCU
  • Barnard No
  • Lehigh No
  • % White
  • Barnard 53%
  • Lehigh 66%
  • % Asian
  • Barnard 14%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Black
  • Barnard 7%
  • Lehigh 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Barnard 12%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Native American
  • Barnard 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Barnard 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Barnard 6%
  • Lehigh 3%
  • % International
  • Barnard 8%
  • Lehigh 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Barnard 0%
  • Lehigh 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Barnard 20%
  • Lehigh 25%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Barnard 62%
  • Lehigh 69%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Barnard College in New York, NY with Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Lehigh University is larger than Barnard based on total student enrollment (7,692 students vs. 3,487 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Barnard vs. Lehigh Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Barnard 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 Barnard College than Lehigh ($26,407 vs. $34,154).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lehigh University are 20.7% lower than at Barnard College ($17,220 vs. $21,714).
  • Barnard College is 7.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lehigh (about $4,908 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $64,980.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.6% higher at Barnard than at Lehigh University (about $4,908 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $64,980.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lehigh University than at Barnard College (65% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Barnard College students is 35.1% larger than aid received by Lehigh University students ($63,131 vs. $46,731).

Barnard vs. Lehigh Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Barnard 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 Barnard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Barnard College (1520) is 80 points higher than at Lehigh (1440).
  • Incoming Barnard students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 32 at Lehigh).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Barnard College 1470/1560; Lehigh University 1370/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Barnard College 32/34; Lehigh University 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Barnard - Test optional; Lehigh - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Barnard Jan 4, 2027; Lehigh Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Barnard students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.85) than students at Lehigh (3.81).
  • Lehigh has a higher acceptance rate (25.9%) than Barnard (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 68.6% at Barnard vs. 28.4% at Lehigh.

Barnard vs. Lehigh Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Barnard 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).

  • Barnard College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Lehigh University's (87%).
  • Graduates from Lehigh University earn a median of about $22,300 more per year than Barnard graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,200 vs. $66,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Barnard College graduates have a $6,409 lower median loan debt than Lehigh graduates ($17,847 vs. $24,256).
  • Among borrowers, Barnard graduates have an estimated $66 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lehigh graduates ($184 vs. $250).
  • More Barnard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lehigh students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 89%)

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.