Lehigh vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College

Comparable Facts

Compare Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA with Penn State Erie Behrend College in Erie, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Lehigh University is larger than Penn State Erie-Behrend College based on total student enrollment (7,692 students vs. 3,336 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lehigh University is located in Bethlehem, PA (Small City setting); Penn State Erie Behrend College is in Erie, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Lehigh University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Erie Behrend College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lehigh University 10:1; Penn State Erie Behrend College 12:1.

Lehigh vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lehigh or Penn State Erie-Behrend College? 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 Penn State Erie Behrend College than Lehigh ($23,764 vs. $34,154).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Erie Behrend College are 15.9% lower than at Lehigh University ($14,474 vs. $17,220).
• Lehigh University is 306.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Erie-Behrend College (about $49,008 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 141% higher at Lehigh than at Penn State Erie Behrend College (about $38,022 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Erie Behrend College than at Lehigh University (76% vs. 65%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lehigh University students is 334.3% larger than aid received by Penn State Erie Behrend College students ($46,731 vs. $10,760).

Lehigh vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lehigh or Penn State Erie-Behrend College? 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 Penn State Erie-Behrend College and Lehigh.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lehigh University (1440) is 220 points higher than at Penn State Erie-Behrend College (1220).
• Incoming Lehigh students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 28 at Penn State Erie-Behrend College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lehigh University 1370/1500; Penn State Erie Behrend College 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lehigh University 31/34; Penn State Erie Behrend College 25/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lehigh - Test optional; Penn State Erie-Behrend College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Lehigh Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Lehigh students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Penn State Erie-Behrend College (3.49).
• Penn State Erie-Behrend College has a higher acceptance rate (96.8%) than Lehigh (25.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.4% at Lehigh vs. 14.5% at Penn State Erie-Behrend College.

Lehigh vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lehigh and Penn State Erie-Behrend College? 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 Penn State Erie Behrend College's (66%).
• Graduates from Lehigh University earn a median of about $33,900 more per year than Penn State Erie-Behrend College graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,200 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lehigh University graduates have a $2,562 lower median loan debt than Penn State Erie-Behrend College graduates ($24,256 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Lehigh graduates have an estimated $27 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Erie-Behrend College graduates ($250 vs. $277).
• More Lehigh graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Erie-Behrend College students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 69%)

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.