Hunter vs. Lehigh

Deciding between CUNY Hunter 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.

CUNY Hunter College
Lehigh University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Hunter New York, NY
  • Lehigh Bethlehem, PA
  • Setting
  • Hunter Large City
  • Lehigh Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Hunter 22,538
  • Lehigh 7,692
  • Type
  • Hunter Public 4 Year
  • Lehigh Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Hunter #297
  • Lehigh #53
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Hunter -
  • Lehigh -
  • Status
  • Hunter Non-profit
  • Lehigh Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Hunter
  • Lehigh

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Hunter $7,382
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Hunter $15,332
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Room & Board
  • Hunter $11,832
  • Lehigh $17,220
  • Average Net Price
  • Hunter $4,431
  • Lehigh $34,154
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Hunter $9,755
  • Lehigh $46,731
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Hunter 87%
  • Lehigh 65%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Hunter 32,271
  • Lehigh 20,396
  • Admitted
  • Hunter 17,362
  • Lehigh 5,289
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Hunter 53.8%
  • Lehigh 25.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Hunter 16.7%
  • Lehigh 28.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Hunter 1260
  • Lehigh 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • Hunter
  • Lehigh 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Hunter 3.7
  • Lehigh 3.81
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Hunter A-
  • Lehigh A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Hunter Very High
  • Lehigh Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Hunter Low
  • Lehigh High
  • ACT Range
  • Hunter
  • Lehigh 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Hunter 1100/1420
  • Lehigh 1370/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Hunter Test optional
  • Lehigh Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Hunter
  • Lehigh Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Hunter 14:1
  • Lehigh 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Hunter
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Psychology (16%)
    • English and Literature (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
  • Lehigh
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Hunter 46%
  • Lehigh 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Hunter $48,800
  • Lehigh $89,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Hunter 56%
  • Lehigh 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Hunter $11,548
  • Lehigh $24,256
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Hunter $119
  • Lehigh $250

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Hunter 33%
  • Lehigh 52%
  • % Women
  • Hunter 67%
  • Lehigh 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Hunter Very High
  • Lehigh Medium
  • HBCU
  • Hunter No
  • Lehigh No
  • % White
  • Hunter 27%
  • Lehigh 66%
  • % Asian
  • Hunter 26%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Black
  • Hunter 10%
  • Lehigh 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Hunter 29%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Native American
  • Hunter 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Hunter 1%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Hunter 2%
  • Lehigh 3%
  • % International
  • Hunter 6%
  • Lehigh 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Hunter 0%
  • Lehigh 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Hunter 82%
  • Lehigh 25%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Hunter 0%
  • Lehigh 69%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

CUNY Hunter College is larger than Lehigh based on total student enrollment (22,538 students vs. 7,692 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • CUNY Hunter College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Lehigh University is in Bethlehem, PA (Small City setting).
  • CUNY Hunter College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Lehigh University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY Hunter College 14:1; Lehigh University 10:1.

Hunter vs. Lehigh Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hunter 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 CUNY Hunter College than Lehigh ($4,431 vs. $34,154).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY Hunter College are 31.3% lower than at Lehigh University ($11,832 vs. $17,220).
  • Lehigh University is 780.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hunter (about $57,598 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $7,382.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 323.8% higher at Lehigh than at CUNY Hunter College (about $49,648 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $15,332.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Hunter College than at Lehigh University (87% vs. 65%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lehigh University students is 379% larger than aid received by CUNY Hunter College students ($46,731 vs. $9,755).

Hunter vs. Lehigh Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Hunter 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 Hunter.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lehigh University (1440) is 180 points higher than at Hunter (1260).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: CUNY Hunter College 1100/1420; Lehigh University 1370/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsLehigh University 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Hunter - Test optional; Lehigh - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Lehigh Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Lehigh students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Hunter (3.7).
  • Hunter has a higher acceptance rate (53.8%) than Lehigh (25.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at Hunter vs. 28.4% at Lehigh.

Hunter vs. Lehigh Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hunter 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 CUNY Hunter College's (46%).
  • Graduates from Lehigh University earn a median of about $40,400 more per year than Hunter graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,200 vs. $48,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Hunter College graduates have a $12,708 lower median loan debt than Lehigh graduates ($11,548 vs. $24,256).
  • Among borrowers, Hunter graduates have an estimated $131 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lehigh graduates ($119 vs. $250).
  • More Lehigh graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hunter students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 56%)

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.