Cornell vs. Lehigh

Deciding between Cornell 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.

Cornell University
Lehigh University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Lehigh Bethlehem, PA
  • Setting
  • Cornell Small City
  • Lehigh Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Lehigh 7,692
  • Type
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • Lehigh Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cornell #19
  • Lehigh #53
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cornell -
  • Lehigh -
  • Status
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Lehigh Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cornell
  • Lehigh

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Room & Board
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Lehigh $17,220
  • Average Net Price
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Lehigh $34,154
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cornell $61,779
  • Lehigh $46,731
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cornell 48%
  • Lehigh 65%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Lehigh 20,396
  • Admitted
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Lehigh 5,289
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Lehigh 25.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Lehigh 28.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cornell 1540
  • Lehigh 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cornell 34
  • Lehigh 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Lehigh 3.81
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cornell A
  • Lehigh A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cornell Elite
  • Lehigh Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cornell Extreme
  • Lehigh High
  • ACT Range
  • Cornell 33/35
  • Lehigh 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Lehigh 1370/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cornell Required
  • Lehigh Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027
  • Lehigh Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Lehigh 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Lehigh
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cornell 93%
  • Lehigh 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Lehigh $89,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cornell 87%
  • Lehigh 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Lehigh $24,256
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cornell $124
  • Lehigh $250

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cornell 47%
  • Lehigh 52%
  • % Women
  • Cornell 53%
  • Lehigh 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cornell Very High
  • Lehigh Medium
  • HBCU
  • Cornell No
  • Lehigh No
  • % White
  • Cornell 41%
  • Lehigh 66%
  • % Asian
  • Cornell 18%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Black
  • Cornell 6%
  • Lehigh 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cornell 12%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Native American
  • Cornell 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cornell 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cornell 4%
  • Lehigh 3%
  • % International
  • Cornell 10%
  • Lehigh 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cornell 8%
  • Lehigh 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cornell 32%
  • Lehigh 25%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cornell 55%
  • Lehigh 69%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Cornell University is larger than Lehigh based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 7,692 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Cornell University is located in Ithaca, NY (Small City setting); Lehigh University is in Bethlehem, PA (Small City setting).
  • Cornell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Lehigh University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Cornell University 9:1; Lehigh University 10:1.

Cornell vs. Lehigh Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cornell 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 Cornell University than Lehigh ($26,361 vs. $34,154).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lehigh University are 11.4% lower than at Cornell University ($17,220 vs. $19,428).
  • Cornell University is 6.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lehigh (about $4,334 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $64,980.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.7% higher at Cornell than at Lehigh University (about $4,334 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $64,980.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lehigh University than at Cornell University (65% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 32.2% larger than aid received by Lehigh University students ($61,779 vs. $46,731).

Cornell vs. Lehigh Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cornell 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 Cornell.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 100 points higher than at Lehigh (1440).
  • Incoming Cornell 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: Cornell University 1500/1570; Lehigh University 1370/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 33/35; Lehigh University 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cornell - Required; Lehigh - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cornell Jan 2, 2027; Lehigh Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cornell students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Lehigh (3.81).
  • Lehigh has a higher acceptance rate (25.9%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 63.9% at Cornell vs. 28.4% at Lehigh.

Cornell vs. Lehigh Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cornell 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).

  • Cornell University's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than Lehigh University's (87%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $9,200 more per year than Lehigh graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $89,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $12,256 lower median loan debt than Lehigh graduates ($12,000 vs. $24,256).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $126 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lehigh graduates ($124 vs. $250).
  • More Lehigh graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cornell students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 87%)

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.