BU vs. Lehigh

Deciding between Boston 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.

Boston University
Lehigh University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Lehigh Bethlehem, PA
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • Lehigh Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • Lehigh 7,692
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • Lehigh Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • Lehigh #53
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • Lehigh -
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • Lehigh Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • Lehigh

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • Lehigh $17,220
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • Lehigh $34,154
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • Lehigh $46,731
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • Lehigh 65%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • Lehigh 20,396
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • Lehigh 5,289
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • Lehigh 25.9%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • Lehigh 28.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • Lehigh 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • Lehigh 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • Lehigh 3.81
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • Lehigh A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • Lehigh Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • Lehigh High
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • Lehigh 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Lehigh 1370/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • Lehigh Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • Lehigh Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • Lehigh 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • Lehigh
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • Lehigh 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • Lehigh $89,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • Lehigh 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • Lehigh $24,256
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • Lehigh $250

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • Lehigh 52%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • Lehigh 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • Lehigh Medium
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • Lehigh No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • Lehigh 66%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • Lehigh 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • Lehigh 3%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • Lehigh 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • Lehigh 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • Lehigh 25%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • Lehigh 69%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Boston University is larger than Lehigh based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 7,692 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

BU vs. Lehigh Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU 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 Boston University than Lehigh ($24,420 vs. $34,154).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lehigh University are 9.5% lower than at Boston University ($17,220 vs. $19,020).
  • Boston University is 4.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lehigh (about $3,122 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $64,980.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.8% higher at BU than at Lehigh University (about $3,122 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $64,980.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lehigh University than at Boston University (65% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 32.3% larger than aid received by Lehigh University students ($61,848 vs. $46,731).

BU vs. Lehigh Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BU 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 BU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston University (1480) is 40 points higher than at Lehigh (1440).
  • Incoming BU 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: Boston University 1420/1530; Lehigh University 1370/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34; Lehigh University 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; Lehigh - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027; Lehigh Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Lehigh students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at BU (3.79).
  • Lehigh has a higher acceptance rate (25.9%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 28.4% at Lehigh.

BU vs. Lehigh Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU 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 Boston University's (85%).
  • Graduates from Lehigh University earn a median of about $17,200 more per year than BU graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,200 vs. $72,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Lehigh University graduates have a $2,744 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($24,256 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Lehigh graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($250 vs. $279).
  • More Lehigh graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BU students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 82%)

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.