Lehigh vs. Brown

Deciding between Lehigh University and Brown 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.

Lehigh University
Brown University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Lehigh Bethlehem, PA
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Lehigh Small City
  • Brown Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Lehigh 7,692
  • Brown 11,956
  • Type
  • Lehigh Private 4 Year
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Lehigh #53
  • Brown #11
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Lehigh -
  • Brown -
  • Status
  • Lehigh Non-profit
  • Brown Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Lehigh
  • Brown

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Brown $71,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Brown $71,412
  • Room & Board
  • Lehigh $17,220
  • Brown $17,444
  • Average Net Price
  • Lehigh $34,154
  • Brown $26,256
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Lehigh $46,731
  • Brown $61,392
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Lehigh 65%
  • Brown 52%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Lehigh 20,396
  • Brown 48,904
  • Admitted
  • Lehigh 5,289
  • Brown 2,638
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Lehigh 25.9%
  • Brown 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Lehigh 28.4%
  • Brown 65.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Lehigh 1440
  • Brown 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Lehigh 32
  • Brown 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Lehigh 3.81
  • Brown 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Lehigh A-
  • Brown A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Lehigh Exceptional
  • Brown Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Lehigh High
  • Brown Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Lehigh 31/34
  • Brown 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Lehigh 1370/1500
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Lehigh Test optional
  • Brown Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Lehigh Jan 1, 2027
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Lehigh 10:1
  • Brown 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Lehigh
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Lehigh 87%
  • Brown 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Lehigh $89,200
  • Brown $87,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Lehigh 89%
  • Brown 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Lehigh $24,256
  • Brown $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Lehigh $250
  • Brown $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Lehigh 52%
  • Brown 48%
  • % Women
  • Lehigh 48%
  • Brown 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Lehigh Medium
  • Brown Very High
  • HBCU
  • Lehigh No
  • Brown No
  • % White
  • Lehigh 66%
  • Brown 43%
  • % Asian
  • Lehigh 9%
  • Brown 13%
  • % Black
  • Lehigh 4%
  • Brown 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Lehigh 9%
  • Brown 11%
  • % Native American
  • Lehigh 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Lehigh 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Lehigh 3%
  • Brown 6%
  • % International
  • Lehigh 8%
  • Brown 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Lehigh 3%
  • Brown 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Lehigh 25%
  • Brown 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Lehigh 69%
  • Brown 79%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Brown University is larger than Lehigh based on total student enrollment (11,956 students vs. 7,692 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Lehigh University is located in Bethlehem, PA (Small City setting); Brown University is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Lehigh University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Brown University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Lehigh University 10:1; Brown University 6:1.

Lehigh vs. Brown Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lehigh or Brown? 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 Brown University than Lehigh ($26,256 vs. $34,154).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lehigh University are 1.3% lower than at Brown University ($17,220 vs. $17,444).
  • Brown University is 9.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lehigh (about $6,432 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $64,980.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.9% higher at Brown than at Lehigh University (about $6,432 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $64,980.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lehigh University than at Brown University (65% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Brown University students is 31.4% larger than aid received by Lehigh University students ($61,392 vs. $46,731).

Lehigh vs. Brown Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lehigh or Brown? 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 Brown and Lehigh.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Brown University (1550) is 110 points higher than at Lehigh (1440).
  • Incoming Brown 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: Lehigh University 1370/1500; Brown University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lehigh University 31/34; Brown University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lehigh - Test optional; Brown - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Lehigh Jan 1, 2027; Brown Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Brown students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Lehigh (3.81).
  • Lehigh has a higher acceptance rate (25.9%) than Brown (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.4% at Lehigh vs. 65.2% at Brown.

Lehigh vs. Brown Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lehigh and Brown? 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).

  • Brown University's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than Lehigh University's (87%).
  • Graduates from Lehigh University earn a median of about $1,600 more per year than Brown graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,200 vs. $87,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Brown University graduates have a $9,256 lower median loan debt than Lehigh graduates ($15,000 vs. $24,256).
  • Among borrowers, Brown graduates have an estimated $95 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lehigh graduates ($155 vs. $250).
  • More Brown 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.