Davidson vs. Lehigh

Comparable Facts

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

Lehigh University is larger than Davidson based on total student enrollment (7,692 students vs. 1,869 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Davidson College is located in Davidson, NC (Large Suburban setting); Lehigh University is in Bethlehem, PA (Small City setting).
• Davidson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Lehigh University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Davidson College 8:1; Lehigh University 10:1.

Davidson vs. Lehigh Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Davidson 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 Davidson College than Lehigh ($27,720 vs. $34,154).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Davidson College are 0.7% lower than at Lehigh University ($17,100 vs. $17,220).
• Lehigh University is 0.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Davidson (about $570 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $64,410.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.9% higher at Lehigh than at Davidson College (about $570 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $64,410.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Davidson College as at Lehigh University (65% vs. 65%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Davidson College students is 10.8% larger than aid received by Lehigh University students ($51,755 vs. $46,731).

Davidson vs. Lehigh Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Davidson 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 Davidson.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Davidson College (1470) is 30 points higher than at Lehigh (1440).
• Incoming Davidson students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 32) as students at Lehigh (32).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Davidson College 1400/1530; Lehigh University 1370/1500.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Davidson College 31/34; Lehigh University 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Davidson - Test optional; Lehigh - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Davidson Jan 7, 2027; Lehigh Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Davidson students have the same average high school GPA (3.81) as students at Lehigh (3.81).
• Lehigh has a higher acceptance rate (25.9%) than Davidson (13.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.9% at Davidson vs. 28.4% at Lehigh.

Davidson vs. Lehigh Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Davidson 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).

• Davidson College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Lehigh University's (87%).
• Graduates from Lehigh University earn a median of about $25,700 more per year than Davidson graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,200 vs. $63,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Davidson College graduates have a $7,256 lower median loan debt than Lehigh graduates ($17,000 vs. $24,256).
• Among borrowers, Davidson graduates have an estimated $75 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lehigh graduates ($175 vs. $250).
• More Davidson 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.