Lehigh vs. WCU

Should I go to Lehigh University or West Chester University of Pennsylvania? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Lehigh or WCU 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. West Chester University of Pennsylvania comparison
Lehigh University West Chester University of Pennsylvania College 3 College 4
Lehigh University West Chester University of Pennsylvania
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Overview

 Lehigh WCU
Location Bethlehem, PA West Chester, PA
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 7,394 17,275
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #54 #496
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website lehigh.edu wcupa.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Lehigh WCU
Tuition (In State) $58,970 $7,716
Tuition (Out of State) $58,970 $19,290
Room & Board $15,890 $14,228
Avg Net Price $30,453 $22,973
Avg Grant Aid $44,116 $5,443
% Receiving Grant Aid 55% 64%

Admission

 Lehigh WCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 15,163 14,778
Admitted 5,607 12,982
Acceptance Rate 37% 87.8%
Enrolled % 26.9% 23.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.81 3.43
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Challenging
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 30/33 23/30
SAT Range 1340/1490 1080/1260
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

Academics

 Lehigh WCU
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 20:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (34%)
  • Engineering (24%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Biology (5%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)

Outcomes

 Lehigh WCU
Graduation Rate 87% 68%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $89,200 $49,000
Making Student Loan Payments 89% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,256 $23,500
Median Loan Payment $250 $242

Diversity

 Lehigh WCU
% Men 54% 39%
% Women 46% 61%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 66% 78%
% Black 4% 11%
% Hispanic 9% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 8% 0%
% Unknown Race 3% 0%

Students

 Lehigh WCU
% In-State 21% 87%
% Out-of-State 71% 12%

Campus

 Lehigh WCU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • West Chester University of Pennsylvania is larger than than Lehigh based on total student enrollment (17,275 students vs. 7,394 students)

Lehigh vs. WCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lehigh or WCU?

  • Lehigh University is 664.3% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($58,970.00 vs. $7,716.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 205.7% higher at Lehigh than West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($58,970.00 vs. $19,290.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at West Chester University of Pennsylvania than Lehigh ($22,973 vs. $30,453)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at West Chester University of Pennsylvania are 11.7% lower than costs at Lehigh University ($14,228 vs. $15,890)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at West Chester University of Pennsylvania than Lehigh University (64% vs. 55%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lehigh University students is 710.5% larger than aid received West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($44,116 vs. $5,443)

Lehigh vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lehigh or WCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WCU or Lehigh .

  • The average SAT score at Lehigh University (1338) is 266 points higher than at WCU (1072)
  • Incoming Lehigh students have a 7 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at WCU (24)
  • Accepted freshman Lehigh students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at WCU (3.43)
  • WCU has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than Lehigh (37%)

Lehigh vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Lehigh or WCU? 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 WCU and Lehigh.

  • The graduation rate at Lehigh is higher than West Chester University of Pennsylvania (87% vs. 68%)
  • Graduates from Lehigh University earn on average $40,200 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($89,200 vs. $49,000)
  • West Chester University of Pennsylvania students graduate with a $756 lower median federal student loan debt than Lehigh graduates. ($23,500 vs. $24,256)
  • WCU graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than Lehigh graduates. ($242 vs. $250)
  • More Lehigh graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU 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/