Harvard vs. Lehigh

Deciding between Harvard 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.

Harvard University
Lehigh University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Lehigh Bethlehem, PA
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Lehigh Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Lehigh 7,692
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Lehigh Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Lehigh #53
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Lehigh -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Lehigh Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Lehigh

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Lehigh $17,220
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Lehigh $34,154
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Lehigh $46,731
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Lehigh 65%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Lehigh 20,396
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Lehigh 5,289
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Lehigh 25.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Lehigh 28.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Lehigh 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Lehigh 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Lehigh 3.81
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Lehigh A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Lehigh Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Lehigh High
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Lehigh 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Lehigh 1370/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Lehigh Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Lehigh Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Lehigh 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Lehigh
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Lehigh 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Lehigh $89,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Lehigh 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Lehigh $24,256
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Lehigh $250

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Lehigh 52%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Lehigh 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Lehigh Medium
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Lehigh No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Lehigh 66%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Lehigh 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Lehigh 3%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Lehigh 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Lehigh 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Lehigh 25%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Lehigh 69%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Harvard University is larger than Lehigh based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 7,692 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Lehigh University is in Bethlehem, PA (Small City setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Lehigh University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; Lehigh University 10:1.

Harvard vs. Lehigh Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard 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 Harvard University than Lehigh ($17,525 vs. $34,154).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lehigh University are 18.7% lower than at Harvard University ($17,220 vs. $21,190).
  • Lehigh University is 5.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $3,304 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.4% higher at Lehigh than at Harvard University (about $3,304 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lehigh University than at Harvard University (65% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 45.5% larger than aid received by Lehigh University students ($68,015 vs. $46,731).

Harvard vs. Lehigh Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard 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 Harvard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 110 points higher than at Lehigh (1440).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 32 at Lehigh).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Lehigh University 1370/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Lehigh University 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Lehigh - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Lehigh Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Lehigh (3.81).
  • Lehigh has a higher acceptance rate (25.9%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 28.4% at Lehigh.

Harvard vs. Lehigh Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard 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).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Lehigh University's (87%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $47,500 more per year than Lehigh graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $89,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $17,756 lower median loan debt than Lehigh graduates ($6,500 vs. $24,256).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $183 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lehigh graduates ($67 vs. $250).
  • More Lehigh graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 70%)

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.