Drexel vs. Lehigh

Deciding between Drexel 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.

Drexel University
Lehigh University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Drexel Philadelphia, PA
  • Lehigh Bethlehem, PA
  • Setting
  • Drexel Large City
  • Lehigh Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Drexel 21,153
  • Lehigh 7,692
  • Type
  • Drexel Private 4 Year
  • Lehigh Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Drexel #118
  • Lehigh #53
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Drexel -
  • Lehigh -
  • Status
  • Drexel Non-profit
  • Lehigh Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Drexel
  • Lehigh

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Drexel $62,412
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Drexel $62,412
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Room & Board
  • Drexel $18,096
  • Lehigh $17,220
  • Average Net Price
  • Drexel $42,801
  • Lehigh $34,154
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Drexel $35,051
  • Lehigh $46,731
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Drexel 100%
  • Lehigh 65%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Drexel 37,314
  • Lehigh 20,396
  • Admitted
  • Drexel 29,642
  • Lehigh 5,289
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Drexel 79.4%
  • Lehigh 25.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Drexel 8.1%
  • Lehigh 28.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Drexel 1340
  • Lehigh 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • Drexel 29
  • Lehigh 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Drexel 3.67
  • Lehigh 3.81
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Drexel A-
  • Lehigh A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Drexel Very High
  • Lehigh Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Drexel
  • Lehigh High
  • ACT Range
  • Drexel 27/32
  • Lehigh 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Drexel 1240/1440
  • Lehigh 1370/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Drexel Test optional
  • Lehigh Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Drexel Jan 15, 2027
  • Lehigh Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Drexel 9:1
  • Lehigh 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Drexel
    • Health Professions (22%)
    • Business (21%)
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
  • Lehigh
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Drexel 68%
  • Lehigh 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Drexel $77,400
  • Lehigh $89,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Drexel 77%
  • Lehigh 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Drexel $26,243
  • Lehigh $24,256
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Drexel $271
  • Lehigh $250

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Drexel 46%
  • Lehigh 52%
  • % Women
  • Drexel 54%
  • Lehigh 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Drexel High
  • Lehigh Medium
  • HBCU
  • Drexel No
  • Lehigh No
  • % White
  • Drexel 54%
  • Lehigh 66%
  • % Asian
  • Drexel 14%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Black
  • Drexel 7%
  • Lehigh 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Drexel 6%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Native American
  • Drexel 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Drexel 1%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Drexel 3%
  • Lehigh 3%
  • % International
  • Drexel 13%
  • Lehigh 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Drexel 2%
  • Lehigh 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Drexel 46%
  • Lehigh 25%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Drexel 44%
  • Lehigh 69%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Drexel University is larger than Lehigh based on total student enrollment (21,153 students vs. 7,692 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Drexel vs. Lehigh Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Drexel 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 Lehigh University than Drexel ($34,154 vs. $42,801).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lehigh University are 4.8% lower than at Drexel University ($17,220 vs. $18,096).
  • Lehigh University is 4.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Drexel (about $2,568 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $62,412.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.1% higher at Lehigh than at Drexel University (about $2,568 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $62,412.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Drexel University than at Lehigh University (100% vs. 65%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lehigh University students is 33.3% larger than aid received by Drexel University students ($46,731 vs. $35,051).

Drexel vs. Lehigh Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Drexel 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 Drexel.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lehigh University (1440) is 100 points higher than at Drexel (1340).
  • Incoming Lehigh students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 29 at Drexel).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Drexel University 1240/1440; Lehigh University 1370/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Drexel University 27/32; Lehigh University 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Drexel - Test optional; Lehigh - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Drexel Jan 15, 2027; Lehigh Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Lehigh students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Drexel (3.67).
  • Drexel has a higher acceptance rate (79.4%) than Lehigh (25.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.1% at Drexel vs. 28.4% at Lehigh.

Drexel vs. Lehigh Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Drexel 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 Drexel University's (68%).
  • Graduates from Lehigh University earn a median of about $11,800 more per year than Drexel graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,200 vs. $77,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Lehigh University graduates have a $1,987 lower median loan debt than Drexel graduates ($24,256 vs. $26,243).
  • Among borrowers, Lehigh graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Drexel graduates ($250 vs. $271).
  • More Lehigh graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Drexel students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 77%)

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.