Lehigh vs. William & Mary

Comparable Facts

Compare Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA with William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

William & Mary is larger than Lehigh based on total student enrollment (9,818 students vs. 7,692 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lehigh University is located in Bethlehem, PA (Small City setting); William & Mary is in Williamsburg, VA (Large Suburban setting).
• Lehigh University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. William & Mary is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lehigh University 10:1; William & Mary 12:1.

Lehigh vs. William & Mary Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lehigh or William & Mary? 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 William & Mary than Lehigh ($19,686 vs. $34,154).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William & Mary are 6% lower than at Lehigh University ($16,182 vs. $17,220).
• Lehigh University is 150.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than William & Mary (about $39,066 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $25,914.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 27.3% higher at Lehigh than at William & Mary (about $13,942 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $51,038.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lehigh University than at William & Mary (65% vs. 43%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lehigh University students is 101.9% larger than aid received by William & Mary students ($46,731 vs. $23,144).

Lehigh vs. William & Mary Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lehigh or William & Mary? 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 William & Mary and Lehigh.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at William & Mary (1470) is 30 points higher than at Lehigh (1440).
• Incoming William & Mary students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 32 at Lehigh).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lehigh University 1370/1500; William & Mary 1400/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lehigh University 31/34; William & Mary 32/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lehigh - Test optional; William & Mary - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Lehigh Jan 1, 2027; William & Mary Jan 2, 2027.
• Accepted freshman William & Mary students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.85) than students at Lehigh (3.81).
• William & Mary has a higher acceptance rate (34.1%) than Lehigh (25.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.4% at Lehigh vs. 26.6% at William & Mary.

Lehigh vs. William & Mary Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lehigh and William & Mary? 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).

• William & Mary's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Lehigh University's (87%).
• Graduates from Lehigh University earn a median of about $20,500 more per year than William & Mary graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,200 vs. $68,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, William & Mary graduates have a $4,756 lower median loan debt than Lehigh graduates ($19,500 vs. $24,256).
• Among borrowers, William & Mary graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lehigh graduates ($201 vs. $250).
• More Lehigh graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former William & Mary students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 85%)

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.