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Lafayette College Villanova Bucknell Colgate University of Richmond BU Washington and Lee Case Western BC RPI Penn State Stevens| Lehigh University | Thomas Jefferson University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Lehigh | Jefferson | ||
| Location | Bethlehem, PA | Philadelphia, PA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 7,590 | 8,315 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #58 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | lehigh.edu | jefferson.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Lehigh | Jefferson | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $61,180 | $44,400 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $61,180 | $44,400 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,470 | $17,246 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $33,289 | $29,097 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $43,644 | $33,063 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 59% | 100% |
Admission |
Lehigh | Jefferson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 18,415 | 6,084 | ||
| Admitted | 5,389 | 5,241 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 29.3% | 86.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.4% | 14.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.81 | 3.73 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | |||
| ACT Range | 31/33 | 27/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1350/1490 | 1150/1350 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 1, 2026 | Jul 31, 2026 |
Academics |
Lehigh | Jefferson | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Lehigh | Jefferson | ||
| Graduation Rate | 87% | - | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $89,200 | $122,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 89% | 86% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,256 | $12,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $129 |
Diversity |
Lehigh | Jefferson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 12% | 15% | ||
| % Women | 11% | 40% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 66% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 9% | 1% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 8% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 7% |
Students |
Lehigh | Jefferson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 23% | 68% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 69% | 30% | ||
Campus |
Lehigh | Jefferson | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | |||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | |||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Thomas Jefferson University is larger than than Lehigh based on total student enrollment (8,315 students vs. 7,590 students)
Lehigh vs. Jefferson Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Lehigh or Jefferson?
- Lehigh University is 37.8% more expensive to attend than Jefferson for in-state tuition ($61,180.00 vs. $44,400.00)
- Out of state tuition is 37.8% higher at Lehigh than Thomas Jefferson University ($61,180.00 vs. $44,400.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Thomas Jefferson University than Lehigh ($29,097 vs. $33,289)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lehigh University are 4.7% lower than costs at Thomas Jefferson University ($16,470 vs. $17,246)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Thomas Jefferson University than Lehigh University (100% vs. 59%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Lehigh University students is 32% larger than aid received Thomas Jefferson University ($43,644 vs. $33,063)
Lehigh vs. Jefferson Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Lehigh or Jefferson? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Jefferson or Lehigh .
- Accepted freshman Lehigh students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Jefferson (3.73)
- Jefferson has a higher acceptance rate (86.1%) than Lehigh (29.3%)
Lehigh vs. Jefferson Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Lehigh or Jefferson? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Jefferson and Lehigh.
- Graduates from Thomas Jefferson University earn on average $33,700 more per year than Lehigh graduates after ten years. ($122,900 vs. $89,200)
- Thomas Jefferson University students graduate with a $11,756 lower median federal student loan debt than Lehigh graduates. ($12,500 vs. $24,256)
- Jefferson graduates are paying $121 less per month on federal student loans than Lehigh graduates. ($129 vs. $250)
- More Lehigh graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Jefferson students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 86%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/