Lehigh vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre

Comparable Facts

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

Lehigh University is larger than Penn State Wilkes-Barre based on total student enrollment (7,692 students vs. 315 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Lehigh vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lehigh or Penn State Wilkes-Barre? 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 Wilkes Barre than Lehigh ($16,621 vs. $34,154).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Wilkes Barre are 11.3% lower than at Lehigh University ($15,274 vs. $17,220).
• Lehigh University is 355% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Wilkes-Barre (about $50,700 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $14,280.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 170.7% higher at Lehigh than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (about $40,974 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $24,006.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Wilkes Barre than at Lehigh University (89% vs. 65%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lehigh University students is 379.7% larger than aid received by Penn State Wilkes Barre students ($46,731 vs. $9,742).

Lehigh vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lehigh or Penn State Wilkes-Barre? 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 Wilkes-Barre and Lehigh.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lehigh University (1440) is 230 points higher than at Penn State Wilkes-Barre (1210).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lehigh University 1370/1500; Penn State Wilkes Barre 1090/1330.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lehigh University 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lehigh - Test optional; Penn State Wilkes-Barre - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Lehigh Jan 1, 2027.
• Penn State Wilkes-Barre has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than Lehigh (25.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.4% at Lehigh vs. 15% at Penn State Wilkes-Barre.

Lehigh vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lehigh and Penn State Wilkes-Barre? 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 Wilkes Barre's (47%).
• Graduates from Lehigh University earn a median of about $33,900 more per year than Penn State Wilkes-Barre 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 Wilkes-Barre graduates ($24,256 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Lehigh graduates have an estimated $27 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates ($250 vs. $277).
• More Lehigh graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Wilkes-Barre 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.