Lehigh vs. Jefferson

Should I go to Lehigh University or Thomas Jefferson University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Lehigh or Jefferson is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Lehigh University vs. Thomas Jefferson University comparison
Lehigh University Thomas Jefferson University College 3 College 4
Lehigh University
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Overview

Lehigh Jefferson
Location Bethlehem, PA Philadelphia, PA
Setting Small City Large City
Enrollment 7,394 8,286
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #54
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website lehigh.edu jefferson.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Lehigh Jefferson
Tuition (In State) $58,970 $43,100
Tuition (Out of State) $58,970 $43,100
Room & Board $15,890 $14,715
Avg Net Price $30,453 $28,110
Avg Grant Aid $44,116 $32,486
% Receiving Grant Aid 55% 100%

Admission

Lehigh Jefferson
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 15,163 5,723
Admitted 5,607 5,085
Acceptance Rate 37% 88.9%
Enrolled % 26.9% 14.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.81 3.73
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Difficult
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 30/33 27/31
SAT Range 1340/1490 1130/1350
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, 2025 Jul 31, 2025

Academics

Lehigh Jefferson
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (34%)
  • Engineering (24%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Biology (5%)
  • Psychology (5%)

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 54% 27%
% Women 46% 73%
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 21% 63%
% Out-of-State 71% 35%

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 (8,286 students vs. 7,394 students)

Lehigh vs. Jefferson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lehigh or Jefferson?

  • Lehigh University is 36.8% more expensive to attend than Jefferson for in-state tuition ($58,970.00 vs. $43,100.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 36.8% higher at Lehigh than Thomas Jefferson University ($58,970.00 vs. $43,100.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Thomas Jefferson University than Lehigh ($28,110 vs. $30,453)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Thomas Jefferson University are 8% lower than costs at Lehigh University ($14,715 vs. $15,890)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Thomas Jefferson University than Lehigh University (100% vs. 55%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lehigh University students is 35.8% larger than aid received Thomas Jefferson University ($44,116 vs. $32,486)

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 (88.9%) than Lehigh (37%)

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/