Lehigh vs. Pitt

Deciding between Lehigh University and University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Lehigh University
University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Lehigh Bethlehem, PA
  • Pitt Pittsburgh, PA
  • Setting
  • Lehigh Small City
  • Pitt Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Lehigh 7,692
  • Pitt 35,724
  • Type
  • Lehigh Private 4 Year
  • Pitt Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Lehigh #53
  • Pitt #138
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Lehigh -
  • Pitt -
  • Status
  • Lehigh Non-profit
  • Pitt Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Lehigh
  • Pitt

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Pitt $21,926
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Pitt $41,430
  • Room & Board
  • Lehigh $17,220
  • Pitt $13,620
  • Average Net Price
  • Lehigh $34,154
  • Pitt $25,223
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Lehigh $46,731
  • Pitt $16,494
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Lehigh 65%
  • Pitt 53%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Lehigh 20,396
  • Pitt 60,898
  • Admitted
  • Lehigh 5,289
  • Pitt 35,372
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Lehigh 25.9%
  • Pitt 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Lehigh 28.4%
  • Pitt 13%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Lehigh 1440
  • Pitt 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • Lehigh 32
  • Pitt 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Lehigh 3.81
  • Pitt 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Lehigh A-
  • Pitt A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Lehigh Exceptional
  • Pitt Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Lehigh High
  • Pitt Low
  • ACT Range
  • Lehigh 31/34
  • Pitt 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Lehigh 1370/1500
  • Pitt 1280/1460
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Lehigh Test optional
  • Pitt Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Lehigh Jan 1, 2027
  • Pitt

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Lehigh 10:1
  • Pitt 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Lehigh
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)
  • Pitt
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Lehigh 87%
  • Pitt 79%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Lehigh $89,200
  • Pitt $58,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Lehigh 89%
  • Pitt 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Lehigh $24,256
  • Pitt $26,909
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Lehigh $250
  • Pitt $278

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Lehigh 52%
  • Pitt 42%
  • % Women
  • Lehigh 48%
  • Pitt 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Lehigh Medium
  • Pitt Low
  • HBCU
  • Lehigh No
  • Pitt No
  • % White
  • Lehigh 66%
  • Pitt 74%
  • % Asian
  • Lehigh 9%
  • Pitt 9%
  • % Black
  • Lehigh 4%
  • Pitt 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Lehigh 9%
  • Pitt 3%
  • % Native American
  • Lehigh 0%
  • Pitt 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Lehigh 0%
  • Pitt 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Lehigh 3%
  • Pitt 3%
  • % International
  • Lehigh 8%
  • Pitt 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Lehigh 3%
  • Pitt 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Lehigh 25%
  • Pitt 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Lehigh 69%
  • Pitt 33%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Lehigh Yes
  • Pitt Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Lehigh No
  • Pitt No
  • Meal Plan
  • Lehigh Yes
  • Pitt Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Lehigh No
  • Pitt No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Lehigh Yes
  • Pitt No

Comparable Facts

Compare Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA with University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in Pittsburgh, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is larger than Lehigh based on total student enrollment (35,724 students vs. 7,692 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Lehigh University is located in Bethlehem, PA (Small City setting); University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting).
  • Lehigh University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Lehigh University 10:1; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 13:1.

Lehigh vs. Pitt Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lehigh or Pitt? 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 University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus than Lehigh ($25,223 vs. $34,154).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus are 20.9% lower than at Lehigh University ($13,620 vs. $17,220).
  • Lehigh University is 196.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pitt (about $43,054 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $21,926.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 56.8% higher at Lehigh than at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (about $23,550 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $41,430.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lehigh University than at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (65% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lehigh University students is 183.3% larger than aid received by University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus students ($46,731 vs. $16,494).

Lehigh vs. Pitt Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lehigh or Pitt? 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 Pitt and Lehigh.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lehigh University (1440) is 70 points higher than at Pitt (1370).
  • Incoming Lehigh students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 31 at Pitt).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lehigh University 1370/1500; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 1280/1460.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lehigh University 31/34; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lehigh - Test optional; Pitt - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Lehigh Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Lehigh students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Pitt (3.79).
  • Pitt has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Lehigh (25.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.4% at Lehigh vs. 13% at Pitt.

Lehigh vs. Pitt Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lehigh and Pitt? 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 University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus's (79%).
  • Graduates from Lehigh University earn a median of about $31,200 more per year than Pitt graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,200 vs. $58,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Lehigh University graduates have a $2,653 lower median loan debt than Pitt graduates ($24,256 vs. $26,909).
  • Among borrowers, Lehigh graduates have an estimated $28 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pitt graduates ($250 vs. $278).
  • More Lehigh graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pitt students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 75%)

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.